Prisoners of Hope

UV 715/10,000 Prisoners of Hope “ Return to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope. Even today I declare that I will restore double to you.” Zechariah 9 v 12 Rousseau wrote the line that inspired the French Revolution," Man is born free but everywhere he is in chains." The truth is that man is born in chains but it is our hope in Christ that sets us free. The ultimate freedom is not political, economic or social freedom but spiritual freedom. In fact, spiritual freedom will lead to other types of freedom being secured. The Lord in this uni-verse asks us who trust and hope in Him to return to Him daily like a child runs into her mother’s arms after a time of absence. We are prisoners or held in captivity as long as we are in our bodies, subject to the usual travails and troubles of human beings. But, our hope in Christ sets us free from fear and anxiety, from want and conflict, from violence and affliction. Our hope sets us free from these chains of sin and bondage. Satan will no longer meddle with us as we are no longer his prisoners. We are prisoners of the Lord, set free forever. He has replaced our bondage with bonding in Him. This wonderful promise of God is not meant for our future in eternity but it operates “ even today”. As surely as the sun has risen and declared with the glory of the sun-rise, the silhouette in the skies around the world, that this day is born, the Lord declares that He will restore double to us who trust His Word, who cling onto Him for dear life. Just as the day means light, warmth, sunshine, activities, fellowship, laughter, work- the Lord will bring forth the blessings of heaven and earth that belong to us from the time of creation. The word, “ restore” means that He will restore what belongs to us- peace, honour, possessions, health, grace, mercy, justice, victory, strength and joy. When we give priority to our bonding or personal relationship with Him, He will break all other chains. The times when we departed from His presence, we might have lost some of these birthrights, our inheritance. But, if we are zealous like Jacob for the rights of the first born, demonstrate it by our faith and our actions, the Lord will give us a double portion of every type of blessing. We need not either deceive or wrestle like Jacob did with the angel of the Lord but by believing and submitting our day and our lives to His will and the outworking of His power and grace, He will be our stronghold, our fortress, our shelter, our shield, our fencing, our hope. Apart from our quiet time with the Lord, He encourages us to keep returning to His presence off and on, frequently during the day, as often as we can to renew our inner strength. The Lord has often reminded us, “ How many times do you have meals in a day? Thrice at least- so why don’t you spend some time with Me at least thrice a day even if it be for a few minutes?” Prateep V Philip