© 2013 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)

Prisons are strongly guarded fortresses. They have strong gates designed to keep prisoners inside, and would-be rescuers out! Sometimes a nation will seek to rescue its citizens from the clutches of an enemy who has taken them captive as political prisoners. When they do, the gates of that fortress must be strong to prevent such a rescue.

In the spiritual realm, Scripture speaks of recovering, “out of the snare of the devil,” (those) “who are taken captive by him at his will” (1 Timothy 2:26). This is the mission for which Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem. Though most prefer to adore Him as a beautiful baby, His mission was one which no other great man could accomplish. Only God the Son, who was born of the virgin, was powerful enough and pure enough to do so. He was born to die. God explains it this way: “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Galatians 4:4-5).

Christ’s coming had been repeatedly prophesied down through the ages. Even the timing of His birth had been prophesied and was under God’s absolute control. Throughout His life Christ, Himself, made it clear that He was in control of this time-table. In the Gospel of John, Christ repeatedly declared that His time had not yet come. Finally, however, when His time for the prophesied sacrificial and bloody crucifixion had come, He declared, “Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:” (John 17:1).

Hell’s prison gates will never successfully prevent the salvation and eternal blessing of God’s redeemed people. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself said, “…upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). The imprisoning gates of Satan’s dark kingdom cannot prevent Christ’s rescue of His own. Our mighty unstoppable Savior said, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37).

Will you come to Christ in repentance and ask Him to save you from your sins? If so, He will not send you away!

 

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