As Free as You want to Be
I've never been in prison.
But hearing the story of someone who has, especially when they are unjustly accused, is captivating. Sadly, our world provides plenty fodder for such tales like Corie ten Boom's "The Hiding Place."
During the Nazi occupation of Holland, Corrie was held in solitary confinement in a Dutch prison for her participation in an underground operation that sheltered Jews. Her first hearing took place before a German Lieutenant with whom Corrie shared about God's view of the way things are as revealed in His Book. Corrie was readily dismissed when she told him about hope she had found, but she was summoned again the next morning. The Lieutenant took her outside to the farthest corner of the yard and said, "I could not sleep last night thinking about the Book where you have read such different ideas. What else does it say in there?"
Corrie responded, "It says that a Light has come into this world, so that we need no longer walk in the dark. Is there darkness in your life Lieutenant?"
"There is great darkness. I cannot bear the work I do here."
"Lieutenant Rahms, Jesus is the Light the Bible shows to me, the Light that can shine even in such darkness as yours."
The Lieutenant's words were nearly inaudible, "What can you know of darkness like mine...?"*
Does this conversation startle you like it does me? The words don't match the scene. It' s like the actors are reading the wrong scripts. This conversation is shocking in its irony, and it's just plain backwards. How is it that the prisoner talks like she is free while the free man sounds like he's wearing chains? Who is free here?
The Nazi Regime may have imprisoned Corrie's body, but her spirit was too much for them. It could not be contained, much less locked away. Corrie's story brings these words to life for me...
"Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." (2 Peter 1:4)
Evil corrupts. Divinity sets free. Period.
And so the world and its ways are turned on their ear. The system is flip-flopped, backwards, upside down. And it doesn't make sense. Not from where I sit. But in the justice system of God , evil is a penitentiary without walls. Prison cells, death camps and even the chains of sin cannot hold a spirit made alive by His nature. Now that's what I'm talking about!
Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:18-21)
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:1-2)
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
"Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:30-31)
"You will know the truth and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32)
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free." (Galatians 5:1)
We are free. More free than we dare to think possible. More free than the world would like us to believe.
When Corrie learned that her Father had died only ten days after their arrest, she turned to face the wall behind her prison cot and made a new entry in the calendar she kept by etching important events into the concrete. She recorded the end of her Father's life on March 9, 1944 with only two words:
Father released.
Just how free do you want to be?
*ten Boom, Corrie, The Hiding Place, p. 158.
Created about 3 years ago
