The Year of the Lord’s Favor

by Bryan Craig

Day 3: Setting Prisoners Free

“He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God.”  Isaiah 61:1b-2a

"All the people looked as if they were at the point of death. Their eyes were sunken into their skulls. Their rib cages showed. They walked about aimlessly. Once in a while I would see one of the walking skeletons collapse, dead. When it happened, men in long black robes would load the body into a cart and cast it into the fire. It was the most horrific thing I had ever seen." (Excerpt from The Journey to the Inner Chamber)

In his book,  Rocky Fleming talks about The Refugee Camp.  He paints a vivid picture of the inward state of those who do not know Christ.  When you think about refugees, do you think of the poor, homeless people or the impoverished, fleeing refugees in other countries?  Or did you think about the guy sitting next to you at church or the co-worker in the next cubicle or the estranged family member?  Do you know anyone in your life who is “brokenhearted”, “imprisoned,” either literally or figuratively, or “in darkness” from a life of sin?  I think we all know people like this.  If we are honest, we have all been in one or all of these states, so we should be able to easily recognize it when we see it.

God knew when sin entered the world and Satan was given access to our lives that fallout would occur.  He knew we would hurt each other and experience pain.  He knew the potential would exist for us to become captivated by sin and eventually captured by it.  He knew, in our sinful nature, we could be tricked into thinking the darkness is attractive and sexy, yet it would leave us pitiful and blind.  It has been said that sin will take you further than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay and cost you more than you want to pay.

God also knew that some of us would live empty, defeated Christian lives without joy and peace.  He sent His Son, Jesus, to restore our hearts, to set us free, and to give us new sight.  God uses US as His agents to help people find this freedom.  As we make disciples, we help believers discover joy and purpose in life.  I’ve seen people set free from bitterness, pornography, anger, alcoholism and many other self-made prisons.  I’ve seen scales fall from people’s eyes as they suddenly have new eyes to understand Scripture, new perspectives for their fellow man, and a new view of their responsibility to God’s Kingdom. They are finding new, abundant life in Christ.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”  John 10:10