God Loves the Prisoners

   When I was young, I thought that all people in prison were bad people. Now that I am older, and have learned more, I don't condemn any more. I don't assume, or generalize. You see, I dearly love someone who has been in prison, and who has completely changed his life now for many, many years.

   If you are in prison, or know someone who is, never let anyone tell you that God has given up on you or your loved one. He never gives up on anyone! God loves us all. No matter what you have done, you can still start over, in God's eyes. He is ready and able to forgive you, and only waits for you to believe in Christ Jesus, and ask for salvation and forgiveness.

    * We have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. Ephesians 1:7b

   We are all prisoners of our own natures, our selfishness, and greed. Without salvation, all people are doomed to follow the enemy, and end up in Hell. Though when we are saved, our souls are freed through Christ our Saviour, we still live in a sinful world, with a sinful nature. I will be so happy to be rid of my old nature at last, when I reach Heaven!

    * Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt. Psalm 123:3

   God is our source of help, to deliver us from ourselves, and from the enemy.

    * The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. Psalm 121:7

   The Lord knows every single person who is in jail or prison. He sees the state of their soul. He does not see them any differently than He sees every other person on earth. For every person has sinned, and every human being needs forgiveness. God's love extends to every single person on earth.

    * The Lord heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners. Psalm 69:33

   God created us all with a free will. He gave us the choice, to become His child, or refuse Him. To go to Heaven, or to go to Hell. He does not want robots. He wants freely given love from His children. With infinite patience, He waits then, for His people to turn to Him, accept Him, and become His beloved children. No matter what grievous sins we have committed, God is ready and willing to forgive them all, and cleanse us, and give us a chance to begin again. With His help, we can stay away from the sins of old. Though we will never be perfect until we reach Heaven, if we ask God to help us, He certainly will.

    * Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

   We may be so filled with shame, for the sins we have committed, that we feel we are hopeless. But we are never hopeless. God has said so.

    * My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenent of my peace be removed, said the Lord that hath mercy on thee. Isaiah 54:10b

   Even a condemned person, on the day of execution, is a soul that God yearns for. He is a soul that God is eager to forgive, even to the last minute of his life. He is dearly beloved of God. In God's eyes, no one is hopeless. Even the worst sinner is a soul who could be transformed into a child of God. His forgiveness takes all the sin of the past away.

    * For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8

   All that God waits for is the confession of faith, and the asking for forgiveness. Even the worst sinner, when forgiven, is a delight and a joy to his Heavenly Father. When forgiven, his sins are not remembered by God any more, and he is simply God's precious child. Our Heavenly Father does not WANT to remember our sins, once He has forgiven them. His forgiveness is that complete. It might be difficult to imagine this, because we, as humans, are not able to completely forget what we have forgiven. However, the Bible says that God does, and it is miraculously so.

    * God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved) Ephesians 2:4,5

   God's love, mercy, and forgiveness will never end. His love is so enormous and powerful, that the little bit that we, as humans feel, is only a drop in the ocean. No matter who you are, or what you have done, God's love for you is pure, and holy, and greater than you can imagine. Just turn to Him, and invite Jesus into your heart. Ask for forgiveness, and it is yours! You are completely precious to Him.

    * Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. II Cor. 5:17

    * Ye, beloved ... keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Jude 1:20a,c, 21