Posted by Kathleen Skaar - Executive Director of CLI
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. NIV Romans 8:28-29
Saturday afternoon was my first visit to the Wake County Jail in downtown Raleigh. The Wake County Jail has three different facilities to house inmates. The downtown jail is a maximum security facility for men and women accused of serious crimes such as murder, rape etc.
The officer in the lobby directed me through an open door to a wall phone. I picked it up and dialed one. Another officer answered and I explained my purpose. He checked his computer for my name and approval status. After about twenty or thirty minutes another officer arrived from a secure area and took me to another part of the building.
He opened the door to a small cubicle and on the other side of a glass wall sat Bob. There was a built-in microphone system so we didn’t have to talk via a phone like in our illustration above. He was a relatively quiet young man with glasses. He said it was the first time that he had ever been imprisoned and found it an evil place. He hoped he would be freed after his court date.
We talked about his family and his relationship with God. He has a wife and two young daughters. He had mailed us a note that he had trusted Jesus in February of this year from a tract that we had mailed to him. He had found CLI through a stamp in one of our books. He said the book just appeared one day and he picked it up.
With both Bob and Derek, I asked if they had any prayer requests and I prayed for each one. The Lord put on my heart Romans 8:28-29 to share with an emphasis on verse 29. I shared how many of us focus on verse 28 and forget that God is working out everything for good for those of us who love God so that we may be conformed to the likeness of Jesus. God’s good purpose for us is that we become humble and loving servants bringing glory to God. As Jesus suffered rejection and persecution, we too may have to suffer hardship and rejection for the good of others.
Neither shared with me what crimes they were accused of, or if they were indeed guilty. In Christ, all of their sins have been forgiven. Still, if found guilty of their charges, they must serve their sentences and submit to the authorities that God has put over them.
When I finished talking with Bob, I left that cubicle and entered another where Derek was sitting behind the glass pane. He is twenty years old with friendly, bright eyes. He said that he had tried to commit suicide twice since being incarcerated. He has been there for a year awaiting trial.
While recovering from his second suicide attempt, he felt the Lord say that his body belonged to Him and Derek had no right to harm it. He believed the Lord and told me that he would not try to take his life again. Let us pray that he does not harm himself or others but fervently and passionately follows Christ all the days of his life whether inside or outside prison.
I said goodbye to Derek, stood up and opened the door to my little cubicle. I turned and looked back at this likable young man and was struck with how mightily God is working behind the glass pane. Not only is He working, He is available for all the imprisoned, both inside and outside, through His Son Jesus Christ. Amen.
(The names of the inmates were changed to protect their identity)
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