by Alok Sarna

Freedom is often a misunderstood word or pleasure. The world, or more to the point, the life that we lead daily gives us choice - as does Jesus Christ. We can choose to be free in the likeness of Christ, or to have freedom to do as we please. The irony here, is that the latter type of freedom - that without Christ - is in fact a prison.

An article in Newsweek recently, told of the plight of our younger generation - the article referred to this group of people as the Prison Generation…and we thought we were the Net Generation. It told of the significant percentage of youths that will be and are incarcerated, imprisoned that is, at an early age in life. Often for behavior that is beyond the imagination of most people - yet, it has become a deathly pattern for young men and women. Calling 10-15-20 year olds "young men and women" is somewhat of a paradox…how at this age one is motivated and can access the tools of murder is incomprehensible to many of us. To these young people living La Vida Loco (the crazy life) it is either considered a way out of despair, or a way in to being accepted by gangs and such. However, the most interesting part of this article told of the freedom that many of these imprisoned people felt while serving time.

Freedom while in prison: Relatively safe from the streets where they killed or risk being killed; more freedom from the temptations of getting deeper into an immoral life; freedom from a negative circle of influence, be it drug dealers, gangs, abuse, and the list goes on. Being locked up, offered a time of reflection to these lost souls. And in doing so, they began to take stock of their lives lived and sometimes, even committed to change, to free themselves from both the physical prison they found themselves in, and the prison outside of the barricades. Thankfully, there are prison ministries, mentors, and missions undertaken by our Christian brothers and sisters that help to rehabilitate these young people…all the while, not taking away, because they can't, the freedom of choice that is still theirs.

What prisons are you facing today? This past week? Right now? Have you chosen to experience a meaningful time of reflection to even consider this? What are the sins that are your prisons? Do you have an escape-to-freedom plan? Or are you satisfied with a type of freedom, that chooses simultaneously to ignore the greater freedom, the better life that is Christ.

Us sinners - you and I - often convince ourselves that we know better. That's why we're Christians after all. Because we know better than to live in the prisons that this world tempts us with. Funny how these prisons have no apparent walls, iron bars, or armed security guards and attack dogs - trained to shoot you and eat you up if you dare try and escape. Let's not kid ourselves - the prisons that we have either chosen or found ourselves put in - such as indifference, laziness, lack of discipline; pornography, obsession, greed, envy, lust - do have an infamous gatekeeper…his name is the Devil. And instead of trying to free you, he would much rather you stay and keep doing those things that perhaps your conscience - if and when you stop to reflect on it - tells you its wrong…but our actions do not change. But it can and it will.

Christians, leave aside the unsaved, are not immune from life's prisons. Our freedom is following the way, the truth, and the life of Jesus Christ. While on this path, pause from time to time to look back - and check whether your path has been crooked, or remained straight. And if so, make the time to atone for getting off track so that you can fully enjoy the freedom that Christ freely offers. The blood He spilled while being crucified is His grace and mercy for our sins, that we may become righteous once again.