THE PORTABLE PRISON  

Did you know there are personal, invisible prisons that people are in everywhere they go? They are inside it at work, when they go shopping, to bed, you name a place; they are in it. The saddest part is they don't know they are in prison, let alone know it is a 24/7 situation. You may be one of those people.

You might be wondering: "Am I really in prison? Who jailed me and why? Since when and for how much longer? What can I do to get out?" All these questions are very reasonable, especially since you didn't even know you were in prison. Let us get some answers to these questions. 

1. ARE YOU IN PRISON? – Yes, you are! You feel it, even though you don't see a physical structure around you. Don't you sometimes wonder why you have no peace, even when everything else seems okay? Your soul is in prison and wants to break free, but it doesn't know how. Isaiah 42:7 and 61:1 confirm that people are in prison and captivity, and Jesus puts it this way: "Everyone who sins is a slave to sin" (John 8:34). 

2. WHO IMPRISONED YOU? The apostle Paul admonished young preacher Timothy to instruct unbelievers with the hope that "They will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will" (2 Timothy 2:26). So, now you know who imprisoned you: it is the devil. 

WHY ARE YOU IN PRISON? – The devil put you in prison so that you will do his will. The devil wanted Adam and Eve to disobey God; he lied to them and got them to do his will. He is still lying to people and getting away with it (at least for now). People still disobey God because the devil twists the truth, making a lie attractive to them. Although they are in prison, he makes them feel like they have the freedom to do whatever they want. The truth is they have no space. He gives his prisoners only one option: to do evil, so that is all they can choose. On the other hand, God lays His options on the table and explains each option's consequences. This approach allows people to know upfront the implications of their choice. 

IMPRISONED SINCE WHEN? -You became a prisoner when your fore-parents, Adam and Eve, disobeyed God in the garden by listening to the devil and his lies. Since then, sin has passed on to all men, "just as sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, and in this way, death came to all men" (Romans 5:12). 

HOW LONG IS YOUR PRISON TERM? – You will be in prison until you discover the truth that sets a person free, which is why this article shows you the way to freedom. Countless men and women have found their way out by doing what I am about to tell you. Allow the Son to free you, and you will be free. (See John 8:36). 

THE WAY TO FREEDOM – God sent His Son to die in your place. This is what Jesus said, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners" (Luke 4:18). The Psalmist knew what it meant to be free, and this is his testimony: "The Lord sets the prisoners free" (Psalm 146:7). Jesus is the only one who can set you free, and this is what you must do: "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31). Confess your sins to Him, ask for His forgiveness, and ask Him to be your Lord and Savior. This is how you break free from the devil's camp. Until you take this step, you will continue to be his prisoner. So don't wait any longer; today is your day of salvation, your day to break free from prison!