#216 "The Prison Of Her Soul"

The room was small. A bed, a desk, and facilities was all. Remembering, it was cold. Thirty five years she had spent in that place. 

In the prison of her soul.

Others had just arrived. More had been there longer. In the place where heaviness and hopelessness was the mark on the day.

Trying to pass the time with pursuits she hoped would numb the pain that she felt inside. Chasing after things.

Success. Riches. Acceptance. Love in the embrace of arms that only took and never gave.

Nothing worked there. In the prison of her soul.

The list of charges was long and only seemed to grow with each new sunrise.

Trying to tow the line. To be a good girl. The accuser always brought another charge.

GUILTY!

She always wondered what it would be like to know the man at work who belonged to another.

GUILTY! Charge: Adultery!  

She remembers signing the consent form. Ending the tiny life of one who could never fight for the right to one day breathe Earth's air.

GUILTY! Charge: Murder! 

Judgment, envy, hatred, anger, gossip, selfishness.

Screaming in her head.

GUILTY! GUILTY! GUILTY!

Banging on the bars. A voice.

"You are free to go."

A dream? A cruel joke? 
Free? Free? I will never be free!

A man has agreed to take her place. She can go free. Could it be? Who would ever do that? A man? 

Almost laughable! Men had only let her down. She hears herself say, "I want to meet this man." They have already taken him away. It is for her to believe and walk free.

Leaving her cell, she hides in the shadows, watching. She recalls an old story she had heard. Peter, wasn't it? Watching from the shadows? She can scarcely breathe when she finds him. Beatings. For her.

Hands go to ears trying to quiet the voices. Taunting. Mocking. Him. For her. Spitting on him. Not her.

She follows in the shadows. "Dead Man Walking", they cry. She stares at his back on it's way to the death chamber. She wants so badly to see his face.

What is he carrying? A cross with something written on it. Oh! No! Every sin, evil thought and sickness she ever had was carved into the wooden beam. 

Heavy nails pierce hands and feet. Nailed to the beam he bore. Screams of pain. Pain she will never be required to know. Blood flows. "I must get closer...I must see him!"

Just then. He turns. The most beautiful eyes she has ever seen...eyes full of love.

"Is He speaking? To me?" 

"My beautiful daughter, I love you so much. You are free - believe it - you are truly free. You are not only forgiven, but your sins are totally off of your record. No one will ever be able to accuse you again. Every sin you will ever commit in your life will be covered by this blood that I am shedding for you right now!"

For a moment His words are interrupted by someone trying to give Him something to drink. But He turns back and says, "Wait. I have more to give you." MORE! What more could He give? Getting weaker with each passing moment, He says that He will send what His Father promised. Another. Holy Spirit. To be with her all the days of her life. A guide. A comforter. A counselor. Life eternal with Him. She will see Him again. She will never be alone again. She will never be abused. She will never be rejected. Forever loved.

He cries out one more time. "It is finished!"

He is dead. She is free. 

A soldier stands by. A tear falling down his cheek. She approaches him and asks, "Who was that man?" 

"Surely this man was the Son of God!"

He hands her the release papers. Shaking hands and pounding heart. The words.

Pardoned. No condemnation.

Penalty paid.

New creation.

Forever righteous.

Loved.

Valued.

Accepted.

Protected.

Redeemed.

Perfect!

She walks out of the darkness and into the light of freedom. She can't wait for you to hear her story. She starts searching for others who need to be set free. Prisoner turned evangelist.

Can you hear her?

Don't try to quiet her. She will not be silent.

Excuse her for being a little...RADICAL.

Radical Love touched her life, right there, in the prison of her soul.

"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)