P.O.W.

For 28 years of my life I was a prisoner of war (p.o.w.)... behind enemy lines, weighed down by chains in darkness with no hope. I was brokenhearted, held captive, wrapped up in sin and unforgiveness, needing to be set free.

Looking back, I remember trying to get out of the chains using my own strength but they wouldn't budge. So I decided to move closer to the battle line, to get a better chance of being rescued.  Another time, thinking I was clever, I did release myself from the chains. But once I was out of them, I couldn't see. I didn't know where I was going. I stumbled through the darkness, fell down and somehow found myself tangled up in heavier chains and further away from the battle line.

I gave up. I was convinced that this was just going to be my life.

I had heard of someone that would come after the prisoner's of war and set them free. But I had decided in my mind that the chains I wore and the wounds I had from all the years behind enemy lines would prove to be too much to be saved from. Surely, the person that saved the prisoners would go after a different prisoner...one that had less chains, less wounds, less sin and that was more easily accessible. I had heard talk of surrender, and then being saved. But that didn't make logical sense to me. Even if I did surrender, the place I was sitting in was dark - so dark that no one would be able to find me or see me.

I started to hear talk of other p.o.w's that I knew of. They had been saved by Jesus. I heard all kinds of stories of this Jesus, and how he rescued them & changed their lives. I heard his words spoken around me, but I had no understanding of them.  Shortly after this, I was no longer just a p.o.w., I was a p.o.w. that had been thrown into a pit. The darkness there, seemed even darker than complete darkness. It was a cold, and lonely place. Everywhere I turned, there was a wall. It was a place of no joy, no hope & no feeling. I felt dispensable. It felt like death.

I remember, on July 24, 2009 - I felt something. I felt an urge to get on my knees, to surrender and call out to Jesus to save me. I fought that urge all morning long, until around 3 o'clock in the afternoon.  I fell to my knees, and I surrendered. I called out to Jesus and begged him to come, to save me - I cried, out loud, saying that I could no longer do anything in my own strength, that I was at rock bottom, and that I needed Him. I yelled out for Him to help me from a place so deep within me, that I almost started to feel sick from how hard I was crying in desperation.

And I will never forget.. from one moment to the next, light shined through the darkness. I didn't know what to do with it at first. I just sat there, stunned. I noticed that I suddenly didn't feel the heaviness I had before. I was no longer blinded by the darkness. I could see. I felt, for the first time in a long time. I felt alive, and loved. I had been saved. Thank you, Jesus!

I was delivered from a dark place of alcoholism, anger, confusion, frustration, guilt and shame ... and delivered to a beautiful Savior that showed me unmerited grace. I was suddenly sober, not just from alcohol, but I was of sober mind. I had a desire to show mercy, to walk in forgiveness that had been purchased at a heavy price by the blood of Jesus Christ, and I had understanding of His words. I didn't feel any condemnation from my past sin, and I was thankful that I had been washed clean, white as snow. I wanted to forgive, in the same way that I was forgiven.

I am eternally grateful that I was rescued. My life has been changed, so much, for the better. It is amazing how free you feel when you choose to surrender to a Lord that is worthy of that surrender. After all, he surrendered his own life for us, first. But I will never forget what it was like to be a p.o.w....to be lost, needing to be found. May we, who have been rescued, never forget those that have yet to be found.  Those who are still p.o.w's.  

I think it's easy for us to forget that we are in the midst of a spiritual war. Unless, there is something evident going on in our lives at this very moment... something that feels heavy, brings discomfort, or persecution, or takes us out of our comfort zones without our permission - I think we can forget that we are engaged in a daily spiritual battle.  Though we already know that Jesus wins the war (Revelation 20:7-10), that does not dismiss us from battle.

Ephesians 6 tells us to put on the full armor of God, to stand firm against the enemy's schemes because we do not war against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Just as the service men and women of the U.S. military choose to defend our freedoms in this nation - we need to remember that as children of God we aren't just called to defend ourselves, but to defend the rights of the poor and needy, to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves (Proverbs 31 & Psalm 82).  Not because we have to, but because we choose to.

As I type these words, there is someone out there being held captive.  They may be miles away in Uganda, forced to be part of the Lord's Resistance Army. They may be in the Ukraine, being sent into other parts of the world & forced into the sex industry. It could be your neighbor, who is secretly struggling with drug addiction or your co-worker, who feels hopeless, alone and afraid. It may even be someone reading this blog, right now. The truth is, it could be anyone.

There are people out there who desperately need to call out to Jesus, because we know that "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13).  But, if they are like I was, they may not know that salvation through Jesus Christ is available to them.  'How then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? Any how can anyone preach unless they are sent?" Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ." (Romans 10:14-15 & 17).  I think it is no coincidence, that Ephesians 6:15 says "with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace"... and then in Romans 10:15, "it is written, how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news."

From someone who was behind enemy lines for far too long, I beg you. Run! 

Run to the captives, physically, or with incessant/urgent prayer. Shine the light of Christ into dark, hopeless situations all around you.

We are the light of the world (Matthew 5). As God sent Jesus into the world, He has sent us into the world (John 17). All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus, so he bids us to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything he has commanded (Matthew 28). Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season (2 Timothy 4). The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on us, because the Lord has anointed us to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent us to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. (Isaiah 61).  'We are His servants, He has chosen us and has not rejected us. So do not fear, for He is with us.... He is our God. He will strengthen us and help us (Isaiah 41). May the God of peace equip us with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13).

The Lord God, who is, who was, and who is to come..the Almighty is the Lord that I have been delivered to and He is available to us all. He is coming back soon. Now is the day of salvation!  But my story would mean nothing, without His story.

If someone is reading this blog, and does not know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, I want you to know that it is never too late. Jesus meets us right where we are at. It's how I met him. There is nothing that you can do to be in a better place to come to know him or to try to be good enough for Him. He loves you just the way you are. Before you were in your mother's womb, He knew you. He knows the number of hairs on your head. God, the Father, demonstrated his love for us by sending his one and only son, Jesus, to be born from a virgin and live a perfect and sinless life.  He took up our pain, bore our suffering and was pierced for our rebellion. He, who knew no sin, took our punishment and died for us while we were still sinners. He has risen from the dead and is now seated at the right hand of God.  He is the way, the truth, and life and no one comes to the Father, except through Him.  If you declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. He makes all things new. Jesus not only changes your heart and your way of thinking. Jesus changes everything.