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Letter to the Imprisoned
by Chris Umeweni My good friend, It is only a fellow without a dream that will look at the four walls of a prison and say all hope is lost. But thank God you are not. When God created individuals, He gave each one a purpose for living. None was born by a mistake or by accident. Every foetus, He knows. Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. (Jeremiah 1:5) That was God reminding Jeremiah that he was born for a purpose. Oh, how our heavenly Father hates to see us die without fulfilling our purpose in life. Daniel was someone who understood that he was living for a purpose and that God Almighty was the owner and director of his life. As a result of this, Daniel found favour both with God and man insomuch that the king made him the head over his kingdom. Jealousy grew in the hearts of a group of men and they arose and plotted against him. The king had no choice but to throw Daniel into the lions den. This really grieved the king for he loved Daniel greatly. Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep went from him. Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of Lions. And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live forever. My God hath sent His angel and hath shut the lions mouth, that they have not hurt me; forasmuch as before him innocence was found in me; and also before thee, o King, have I done no hurt. (Daniel 6:18-22) My God hath sent His angel and hath shut the lions mouths Even in the lions den, God was still with Daniel, keeping him from harm. Daniel would not die yet when he had not finished what he was brought into the earth to do. There were still lots of people he had to save and help. Therefore, the lions had to become friends with him. Praise God! Thats exactly the way it was in the beginning before man came short of the glory of God. Guess what? When Daniel was brought out, there was another level of prosperity he entered: So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. (Daniel 6:28) God is not through with you. Your being in prison is never the end of you. Have you been sentenced to death? The same God who shut the mouths of the lions is the living God of today. He alone can avert it. Only believe. Perhaps you are innocent of the charges made against you. God sees it all. His angels are right there in prison with you. Hallelujah! When you come out of prison, you are going to so shine that your enemies will want to make peace with you. When a mans ways please the LORD, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. (Proverbs 16:7) Joseph, who was called The Dreamer, had many beautiful dreams God showed him concerning his future. He couldnt help but share it with his family. The brothers, not understanding that everyone has a unique destiny and unique way of fulfilling it (get my book Born Unique), grew jealous of Joseph and planned to sell him out as a slave. Just at that tender age of 17, Joseph was cast into the pit by his brothers and was later sold to Potiphar as a slave. Yet God was with Joseph. Potiphars wife set up Joseph and he was sent to prison. Yet, even in prison, God was with him. All these did Joseph pass through for 13 years. And when the time came in Gods calendar that Joseph was set to be blessed, no man could stop it. At age 30, he became the governor of Egypt. Just like that! And the bible make me understand that he ruled for 80 years! (Genesis 37 50). What a God we serve. Like I did say, his brothers came later and made peace with him. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28) Your imprisonment could only be a visa to your greatness. Only never rebel against God every second of your stay in prison. Could it be that the crime you committed is not even fit to be mentioned to the ears of people? Therefore, you think you are the worst of sinners. That is what you may think, but it is never what God thinks about you. Was Saul, who later became Apostle Paul, not the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15), who murdered even Christians children of God! Yet God forgave him and made him who he was supposed to be. Now the footprints he left in the sands of time is still affecting the world. I understand that friends and loved ones might have forsaken you and are even wishing you rot in prison. But God who sees the heart of his creatures never looks at you that way, but is saying, Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; thought they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land. But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword. For the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. (Isaiah 1:18-20) There is no sin, the blood of Jesus can never cleanse and there is no disease you are suffering from now that God cannot heal. Only make Jesus the LORD of your life. Immediately, you will be enrolled into the family of God. Here is Gods promise to you, if you will obey: And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. (Joel 2:25) And immediately, a new record will be opened for you in heaven; a record that has no sin or crime attached to your name. Instantly, every mistake you have made in the past becomes a message. Then, you will start living a new life. Glory to God! for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7b) I know of an influential man in Nigeria, who was tried for plotting a coup and sentenced to prison. In prison, he claimed to have found God. The next 3 years, he was released from prison and he returned to politics he had always loved. The next year he contested for presidential election and won. The post, he held for 8 years. The four walls of prison never killed his dream. Where God says you must get to, there you must. Only walk with Him. Trust and obey His words. Get a Bible the best book of all times. Read and meditate on it day and night. Do all your best to obey Gods Word contained therein, and I bet you He will make you who you really are supposed to be. Jesus still says to you today: Follow Me and I will make you (Matthew 4:19) Patience dear, patience. Thats all you need. Everyone needed to come your way for you to still become whom you really were meant to be, God will send across your way because: The kings heart is in the hand of the LORD, as are the watercourses; He turns it whichever way He wills. (Proverbs 21:1 Amp) So, cheer up! And confess His promises to you rather than your sufferings and anguish. But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel. Fear not: For I have redeemed thee. I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee. When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour. (Isaiah 43:1-3a) An Evangellist cum Author http://www.chrisumeweni.com Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |