There's Hope For TodaySample

I don’t remember when I started building this prison – sometime long ago.

I cut each stone from the quarry of my resentments. I built with vengeance to incarcerate my enemies. I set the iron gates in place with an angry burst of adrenaline. I issued warrants and arrested each offender. If you hurt me, or wronged me, or disrespected me, I hunted you down and locked you up in the prison of my graceless heart. When my prison once reached capacity, I built more cells. Parole was rarely granted and nobody escaped. I’ve been judge, jury, and jailor – I’ve forgiven no one … until today.

Today I caught a vision of my own guilt, and of the staggering grace that God has extended to me in Christ. Today I realized that, having built this dark prison, I am now cursed to guard it. Today I felt a yearning to run, to sail away, to walk up a cold mountain stream – but as long as I was the warden of my malefactors, I was held prisoner in the prison I built for others. Yet, now I am free! I’ve opened every prison door and set every prisoner free. No man owes me a thing. I’ve nothing left to guard. I’m leaving this prison to rot and ruin.

One look at the cross and I know – I can never hold another captive again.