When I Was In Prison II

Posted on Sunday, October 15th, 2006 at 4:42 pm

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Matthew 25:37-40 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?  38 ‘And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?  39 ‘When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 “The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’

It was the first time that I had ever been marched off behind razor wire.  The march happened after Dr. Gage and I had been standing in the hot sun with a line of inmates at the state prison in Arcadia, FL.  I suspect it was Dr. Gage’s first time being marched off behind razor wire as well, though I cannot say for sure.  We marched off to lunch with drug dealers, murders, rapists and others that might not be welcome in the ordinary Sunday morning service.  The food was horrible, I am told by Dr Gage, I gave mine to an inmate who promised me candy later in the day.

The chaplain of the penitentiary had written and asked Dr. Gage to come and speak about the book of Revelation after hearing him at the first John/Revelation conference sponsored by Knox Seminary.  Gage told me that he was going and I think I asked to go along (it may be that he asked if I would like to go along, I don’t remember).  Having been to several jails, but never a state prison, I was anxious to go.  This would be yet one more experience to mark off my list (I’ll tell you about my list some other time, it includes attending a snake-handling worship service).

We arrived at the prison and were given small black boxes called “screamersâ€? to wear on our belts.  The chaplain told us that all that we needed to do was push the button or pull the cord and a S.W.A.T. team would be there within five to ten seconds.  I was very careful not to accidentally pull that cord.  I didn’t want to find out how long (between five to ten seconds) it would take the team to get there.

The wonderful thing was that there was a true spirit of worship in that chapel both that Friday night, as well as the next day.  There was genuine excitement in the singing and I particularly remember a song that I had not heard before.  It was called “How Long?â€?  The song asked the Lord how long the difficulty, tribulations, and trials would go on.  As you might imagine, sung among inmates, it was powerful.

After I had presented a very small bit (what little I know) and Dr. Gage had presented a great deal, we took questions from the group.  I have taken questions from a lot of groups of people, including from a radio audience for years.  Both Dr. Gage and I agreed that we had never had such good, specific, well-asked questions as we had that day in the prison chapel.  I was just glad that I had Gage there with me to answer all the questions about the Left Behind series.

On the way back to Ft. Lauderdale Dr. Gage and I talked about the prison system and how it does a great job of punishing but very little rehabilitation.  Prison is an awful place, awful food, awful rules, awful rooms, it is all just awful.  Don’t get me wrong, I know that many of those who were there are in that place because they have committed crimes that beyond awful.  But there were also those who had committed non-violent crimes, for whom this environment can only make them worse.

Now, to get back to the original point of this blog, imagine the impact this environment would have upon you if you had not committed the crime for which you were incarcerated?  What kind of horrible existence could one hope for if your future life was to be nothing more than prison walls, violence, and horrible food?

It seems to me that it would be almost impossible to survive under those circumstances.  The number of people who have been exonerated is much larger than those who have gone on to live normal lives.  There are many, I am sure, right now that are in prison who are not guilty of the crime for which they have been convicted.  What can I as a minister of the Gospel offer them?

I can offer them the book of another prisoner, John Bunyan.  The book is Pilgrim’s Progress, written (by most accounts) while Bunyan spent twelve years in jail for refusing to stop preaching the gospel.  He writes of spending time in the castle of the giant of despair.  It would seem that anyone in prison might find themselves in this castle.  The wonderful thing is that Christian (the main character) does not die in the castle.  Eventually he moves on and finally makes it to the celestial city.  That is the hope that I offer to anyone who faces difficult circumstances, that we are seeking another city.  We are seeking a city that has no prisons, no murders, no drug dealers.  All of the injustices that have been done here on earth will be “undoneâ€? in the new city were all will be put right.

P.S.  While I often kid about my buddy Dr. Gage, you should know that he is one of my closest friends.  We continue to find things in our background as children and young men that are so similar as to be frightening.  So, don’t worry there is no disrespect intended in the jokes that we trade back and forth.  It is all part of the game.

Hebrews 11:16 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.