Visited Jesus in prison lately?

Faith and deeds. Action versus reaction. The Sheep and the Goats. Doesn’t it always come back to this in the life of a believer? Isn’t this the back drop for so many popular theology books like “How then shall we live?” In Matthew 25, Jesus gets real practical about what our lives should look like and what we should be doing. Verse 36 ends with, “I was in prison and you came to visit me.” Up to this point, it has been about feeding people, clothing people, visiting the sick, using our talents, but now suddenly Jesus shifts to something that seems a bit outside the box. So, what is he talking about? Isn’t that what the believers in this passage ask? When did we see you in prison and come visit you? On that day (the day Christ returns), the King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Brothers? Yes, that’s right, brothers in Christ in prison. Let me pause to ask you a question, if your flesh and blood brother or sister was in prison, would you go visit them? If not, don’t even bother to keep reading. However, if you know that if your actual brother or sister did something awful, made a big mistake and had to go to prison that you would still continue to be in relationship with them, then keep reading.

Last night, I had the privilege to do something I should have been doing for years. I went with a minister who has a ministry to inmates at the State Pen. Mind you, this wasn’t just the county jail or the regional prison. This was a level five prison, the highest level of security and a population that at least two-thirds will never see the outside again. Let me paint a quick picture for you. All I could take in was my driver’s license. We entered the building and immediately went through a metal detector. Then, we went through a secure door and were searched. Then, we went through another secure door and came to a window where I gave them my driver’s license. In return, I received a visitors badge that was numbered as to know it was me and a device that strapped to my waist that if removed would send out a distress signal and guards would immediately come. The device also had a button that I could push as well and the same would happen. Equipped with this device and my visitor’s badge, we went through two more secure doors and then out into the yard. Once in the yard, we were escorted through two secure fence lines and finally into the perimeter of the prison. We entered the building that we would get to visit with some of the prisoners through a secure door and then went through another metal detector. Needless to say, I think the area was pretty secure. Then, exactly at the scheduled time, about 25 inmates came in a single file line through the metal detector and frisked by guards into the room that would serve as our meeting room.

I’m not sure what I expected. After all, I have seen a lot of movies and shows about life inside a maximum security prison. So, I had only those images as a reference point. What happened next, I definitely didn’t expect. One by one, they came up and shook my hand and introduced themselves. Each made a point to verbally tell me thanks for coming. If they had had on different attire such as dress shirts and pants, I could have been in almost any setting. My point, they didn’t have the faces of hardened criminals. Just the opposite, most of their faces glowed with a genuine warmth and joy. How could this be? They were in prison. Surely, this place has to be one of the most depressing places to live and be day in and day out. Yet, you would never know it. This might be where your cynical side comes out. Well, Chris, lots of prisoners fake the Christian card, so they can get an earlier parole or special privileges. Let me just dispel that for you. Again, two-thirds of these guys will never get out and they know it. The prison only allows each inmate three scheduled activities a month. They must sign up for these activities a month in advance. Each activity is only one and a half hour in length. If they do anything wrong leading up to the activity, they will lose their privileges and not be able to go. Other activities might include a softball game or a movie on the big screen. My point, these guys chose to come hear the Word of God and fellowship with other believers from the outside versus those other activities and they know they are never getting out. So, my point, there is nothing in it for them. Well, except for one thing. It is the one thing we can do any day of the week and multiple times a day if we choose. So, what is that one thing? Fellowship with other believers. They have the opportunity to worship in song, give testimonies to God’s faithfulness, take communion, and hear the Word of God proclaimed. Let’s just say it was quite convicting. If I had only one activity a day, would that be what I chose? How about three a month?

As the pianist was singing one of our last songs of our time together, I looked around the room and into the faces of these men. I listened for the still small voice of God and He said, “this is the church.” When two or more are gathered in my name there I am also with them. Emmanuel was in the room and this was his ekklesia. See the truth is I had a life sentence, only not in prison, but in hell. Fortunately, Christ came and died on the cross in my place, so that I could have life with him. Everyone of these men made a mistake, a mistake that will cost them the rest of their life here on earth. Yet, for those who have accepted that wonderful gift of Christ, they have eternal life. I have heard many believers make judgmental statements about those in prison. Maybe some parts of it are true. However, keep this in mind, David not only was an adulterer, but also a murderer. Even after committing these acts, God used him mightily and blessed the nation of Israel for a thousand years because of him. What is important to God is a man's heart. See, in the end, its not really going to matter about your church attendance card, your financial giving to various ministries, or conformity to socially accepted norms. He is going to divide all those who say they are a Christian into two groups, the sheep and the goats. The only difference in the two groups will be what they did while they were here on earth and didn't do.