As
I write this article this morning the breaking news is of three young
women who have been freed from a ten year nightmare of captivity in a
home in Cleveland, Ohio. Today Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle
Knight are alive and free! These three young women were each abducted
separately ten years ago and have been held captive for all this time.
The details are still emerging but the words I’ve heard over and over
so far are “celebration”, “freedom”, and “rejoicing” in describing the
feelings of those freed from captivity and the family and friends who
thought they had been lost forever. I couldn’t help but rejoice as
these young women celebrate their freedom and release from captivity.
Not to sound too much like a preacher, but the parallels to their stories of captivity and imprisonment by evil men to all of mankind’s captivity and imprisonment to sin is striking. They were taken and held captive. No freedom, no peace, no hope. Yet through their incredible escape, the details of which have yet to be released, they are now experiencing freedom, joy, hope and peace once more. That which was lost has been found! Many had given up hope and assumed that the women were dead. For years family members and friends searched and hoped that one day they would find them alive. That day has come! These women were rescued by a couple of neighbors. Jesus Christ is the one who rescues us from our captivity to sin. He allows us to experience new life, freedom, hope and joy. As the rest of this story unfolds we will hear more about the horrific situation these young women had to endure. But today we celebrate because that which was once lost is now found. As one of the women said “I’m free!” Without Jesus we are still captive to sin and it’s horrific effect on us. May we celebrate life with them and reflect on the truth that in Jesus Christ, we too are free!
Not to sound too much like a preacher, but the parallels to their stories of captivity and imprisonment by evil men to all of mankind’s captivity and imprisonment to sin is striking. They were taken and held captive. No freedom, no peace, no hope. Yet through their incredible escape, the details of which have yet to be released, they are now experiencing freedom, joy, hope and peace once more. That which was lost has been found! Many had given up hope and assumed that the women were dead. For years family members and friends searched and hoped that one day they would find them alive. That day has come! These women were rescued by a couple of neighbors. Jesus Christ is the one who rescues us from our captivity to sin. He allows us to experience new life, freedom, hope and joy. As the rest of this story unfolds we will hear more about the horrific situation these young women had to endure. But today we celebrate because that which was once lost is now found. As one of the women said “I’m free!” Without Jesus we are still captive to sin and it’s horrific effect on us. May we celebrate life with them and reflect on the truth that in Jesus Christ, we too are free!
