Back in the day I remember Bishop T.D. Jakes preaching a sermon that still resonates with me today. He reminded those in attendance that a good portion of the Bible was written from a jail cell. Recollection has me thinking he was telling his followers about the church’s outreach prison ministry.
I was struck by the reality of God’s Word and direction coming from the faith deep of those imprisoned. The concept of inspired revelation from jail has never left me.
What is it about being a walking, talking believer that scares the heaven out of those in power so much that a jail cell is an inevitable and practical answer? History suggests that professing one’s belief in Jesus Christ as Lord can literally be a death sentence. The Bible teaches us that eventually our faith will be put to the ultimate test. Have you ever wondered why God’s teachings are so feared by those of other religions?
Now that I’m saved, I guess you could say I’m a candidate for assassination, if not literally certainly figuratively. I don’t view myself as a threat to anyone, never have, particularly when it comes to my belief in one God, the Holy Trinity and the truth of Jesus Christ. It’s sometimes difficult to realize that the world in which I live views me in this manner.
A larger issue ought to be have I done anything that would land me in jail. The jail I’m referring to is defined by me as that spiritual place that present day Sadducees and Pharisees want to send people like me. If I haven’t said or done anything to get sentenced then maybe I better get going, stir some things up.
In their day, the apostles were the threats to the establishment. That meant governments and principalities, as well as the church hierarchy of that day. Jesus was a quintessential revolutionary. It still amazes me how such principles like unconditional love for humankind got Him killed. And then it always hits me that this kind of “we’re all in this together” view of the world will be attacked and undermined by entrenched institutionalized power of all kinds.
That’s when I am forced to understand that if you are a believer in Christ, you are most certainly a threat to those who overvalue that which is of this world. Man craves power, and Christianity abdicates all power to Jehovah. We stand as representatives of that truth and stand trial every day with the world as judge and jury.
That explains that target on the backs of believers throughout history and the one on ours today. All I can encourage you to do in the face of all this is to stay the course and know that our defense attorney has already won this case. The prosecution lost. So when you’re in your cell all alone, remember the war is over. The verdict is in. The battle will pass. We won.
