Letter to a Prisoner

Dear Prisoner,

I can understand your anxiety and desire to be free. While I cannot say what will happen in your trials, etc, I think it would be good for you to have a chance to start over in the outside world. To live out here again remembering the lessons from your past and taking each step in faith, careful not to repeat the same old mistakes. While there are many who might think that having to “start all over” is a bad thing, it can actually be a launching pad for tremendous opportunity. Life is all what you make it, and what you make it in Christ.

Whatever happens with your hearings, I know this is the most important thing: to devote your life to Christ. Surround yourself, as best you can, with Christian books, films, music, and posters. These things will be spiritual reminders and “snacks” to you. I love it when I find the words to a good Christian song echoing through my head. I dislike wasting my senses on secular things that might satisfy my flesh but do nothing for my spirit or my relationship with God.

Read the Word daily, even if it's just a small bit. I always plan to read in the morning and at night; that way, if one of the times doesn't work out, I still have the other one. Good Christian books can also help. Be careful, though—many books only masquerade as Christian, represent some “new” (false) form of Christianity, or otherwise contain small (or large) untruths hidden within. If you are not sure of the true nature of a book, write me about it and I will research it for you. The internet provides many book reviews by Christian people and organizations. As for myself, I especially enjoy reading biographies of Christians from around the world—missionaries and “Jesus freaks”. I could definitely recommend some.

And a final word regarding Christianity: the true nature and definition of “to be free” or “to live again” is to live in Christ, for Christ. Understand that this is a decision you must will to make and live that concerns more than just the rest of your earthly life. Also, do not think of your time spent in prison as wasted time. Many Christians around the world in prison for their faith say that their time locked away was their best and closest time with their Savior. Away from the distractions of the outside world, they could better hear His voice and live only for Him. But how can you live for Christ in prison, shut away from the world, you might ask? Easy! Any place where you come into contact with other people, whether freedman or prisoner, is a miniature world itself, and Christians are commanded to preach the gospel in all such places. You never know the effect you can have. You could be the one. And if you're waiting on someone else to do it first, then you'll probably never live for Christ at all, because that other person is probably waiting on someone else, too—someone just like you. If you are unwilling to do this, then you might as well content yourself to an eternity without Christ. Because to be a saved Christian is to be a servant of Christ, and a servant that never serves, well—isn't a servant at all.

  The Christian is not an armchair receiver-of-salvation. Jesus said, “Whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:38) Being a Christian involves work, although I do believe that it is the most ultimately enjoyable work you will ever find.

May God go with you as you go with Him.