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WHAT PRISON ARE YOU IN?

James 1:13-14
12-27-09

    Years ago in Australia, a man came up with what he thought was a fool proof plan to escape from the county jail.  He crawled under a delivery truck parked inside the prison yard.  He held on for dear life to the underpinnings as it passed through the prison gates and then proceeded down the main highway.

    Thirty minutes later, the truck began to slow down.  When it came to a complete stop, the prisoner let go, dropped to the ground, and rolled out to what he thought was freedom.  Actually, as he rolled out from under the truck, he discovered that he was now inside the walls of the state prison.  His attempt to escape one prison had only landed him in a worse one.

    Many of us do that.  Old folks used to call it, “Jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.”

    A young person runs away from home to join a ruthless gang or a dangerous cult.  A girl rebels against her controlling mother by marrying an abusive husband.  A dissatisfied worker quits one job to take another one with greater demands.

    Why do we do that?  Why do we go from one bad situation to another?

    Well, problems are rampant.  One man said, “You can meet anybody on the street and say, “I’m sorry!  I heard about your problem,” and they’ll probably ask, “Which one?”  Everybody has problems.  Unfortunately, many are self-inflicted.  James said, "No one who wants to do wrong should ever say, 'God is tempting me.' God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else either.  Temptation comes from the lure of our own evil desires" (James 1:13-14).

    Once two construction workers sat down at noon to eat.  One opened his box and began to complain, “Baloney again!  I can’t believe it!  I hate baloney!  This is the third time this week that I’ve had baloney.  I can’t stand baloney!”

    His friend tried to settle him down, “Take it easy, man.  Why don’t you just tell your wife that you don’t like baloney.  Ask her to make something different.”

    “Wife!” replied the first.  My wife goes to work early.  I make my own lunches.”

    The fact is, most of the baloney in our lives, we put there ourselves.  We are responsible.

    How can we avoid these mistakes next year.  How can we learn to make better choices?

    I.  FIRST, WE CAN DEAL WITH IGNORANCE.

    Lack of information and understanding sets us up for brainwashing.  There are many individuals and groups who are out to use us.  Christians are to be wise not gullible.  If something sounds to good to be true, it’s probably false.  Solomon said, “Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do! And whatever else you do, get good judgment” (Prov. 4:7, nlb).

    Jesus said, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Matt. 10:16, kjv).

    Realizing the vast difference between what you know and how much there is yet to learn will indeed mark you as a knowledgeable person.
    An old verse says:

        We have not yet arrived
            Without this growing notion
        Our knowledge is a drop
            Our ignorance an ocean

    Furthermore, ignorance is not bliss and good intentions are not enough.  Can you imagine what they would do to someone who enters an operating room brandishing a scalpel, and declares, “I have no medical training, but I do have a burden to help suffering humanity.”

    Don’t be ignorant.

II.   NEXT, WE CAN DEAL WITH APATHY.

    Inertia causes us to just go along.  We stay with what’s familiar, even if it’s unpleasant.  The unpleasant known seems better than the fearful unknown.  Jesus said, "Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak!" (Matt.  26:41, nlb).

    Peter said, “Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour” (I Peter 5:8, nlb).

    It seems that our modern churches are full of willing people.  Some are willing to work, and others are wiling to let them. 

    A poet wrote:

    Through this toilsome world alas!
    Once and only once I pass;
    If a good deed I may do
    To a suffering fellow man,
    Let me do it while I can
    No delay, for it is plain
    I shall not pass this way again.

    Edward Everett Hale put it this way:
    I am only one,
    But still I am one.
    I cannot do everything,
    But still I can do something;
    And because I cannot do everything
    I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.
            —Edward Everett Hale

    Don’t be apathetic.

III.  FINALLY, WE CAN DEAL WITH GUILT.

    We set ourselves up for failure.  We sabotage our success.  We seek punishment and allow abuse because we think it’s what we deserve.
    Almost everyone has doubts about their abilities.  If we lack confidence we’ll fail.  The word confidence means “with faith.”  Paul said, “For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.” (Phil. 4:13, nlb).

    Insecurity shows lack of faith.

    Also, regrets for the past and anxiety for the future cause us to expect punishment.  But Paul said, “Blessed are those who do not condemn themselves by doing something they know is all right” (Rom.  14:22b, nlb).

    The writer of Hebrews said, “We have been cleansed and made free from feelings of guilt . . .” (Heb. 10:22, edb).

    A man said, “When I was a child, my mother left an open can of red paint on the kitchen floor and went out into the yard for something.  While she was gone, my sister and I ran through the kitchen and kicked the whole thing over.  We hurried out to tell my mother what had happened.  She not only forgave us, but praised us, saying, “When you do something wrong, always tell me right away.  Because you told me immediately, I can clean up the floor without permanent damage.  If you had tried to hide it, the kitchen floor would have been red for years.”

    It’s the same with us.  When you do something wrong, remember the can of red paint.  If you don’t confess it immediately, it will do more harm and will be much harder to confess later.

    If you have something from your past that must be made right, clear it up immediately before it gets worse.  John said, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9, kjv).

    Don’t live with guilt.

CONCLUSION:

    As we come to the end of 2009, let’s make three New Year’s resolutions–-resolutions that will enhance our lives and the lives of those around us.  These are commitments that will enrich our families and strengthen our church. 

    Resolution number one will free us from the prison of ignorance.  Uninformed and prejudiced minds are deadly.  We must learn all we can by getting good information.  We must think and reason.  We must grow in knowledge and wisdom. 

    So, as we begin this new year, let’s resolve to study the Scriptures, to attend our helpful Sunday School classes, and to be faithful in church attendance where our faith is taught.

    Resolution number two will free us from the prison of apathy.  Unconcern and irresponsibility are deadly.  We must be concerned and active in ministry projects that will improve our families, our church, our community, our nation and our world.

    So, as we begin this new year, let’s resolve to put our faith into practice, by being good citizens and good neighbors; by loving and encouraging our fellow Christians and by increasing our outreach to others through calls, visits, cards, Emails and invitations to our church.

    Resolution number three will free us from the prison of guilt.  Persistent feelings of remorse and failure are deadly.  We must deal with our problems and mistakes by confessing our sins, receiving God’s forgiveness and appreciating the peace and confidence that his love brings. 

    So, as we begin this new year, let’s resolve to be the best witnesses we can be by letting Christ live in us and work through us.  These resolutions will help us to start the New Year with a clean slate.  They will free us from the prisons of ignorance, apathy and guilt.   

    Jesus said, “If the Son . . . shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36, kjv).

    Next year we will be emphasizing the abundant life that Christ offers.  Let it be the best year of your life.

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Copyrighted 2009 by Miles and Maralene Wesner, Idabel, OK.  PLEASE FEEL FREE TO USE THIS MESSAGE IN ANY WAY YOU THINK IS APPROPRIATE.  The only thing we ask is that you give credit for original material in PUBLISHED works. 

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Miles E Wesner