And the inhabitants shall not say, "I am sick." The
people that dwell in the land shall be forgiven.
Isaiah 33:24
Incarceration can leave a prisoner with lots of time for reflection...
people that dwell in the land shall be forgiven.
Isaiah 33:24
Incarceration can leave a prisoner with lots of time for reflection...
Confined to a cell for much of each day with years of monotony, it gives him a lot of time to think. This could be a bad thing, or a good thing, depending on what he's thinking about.
Many prisoners, including myself, when we take stock of our situation and what brought us here, will think about what we lost. Not only this, but we will think of all those we hurt. Not just the victim or victims of our crimes, but our own loved ones, as well.
Speaking for myself, I hurt and disappointed those who loved me and had big hopes for me. My adopted family and my birth family were devastated. There are no words to describe their shock and pain.
The point of all this being that when a prisoner is truly sorry, not for being apprehended as many believe, but is remorseful for hurting others as well as damaging his own life, this is when real inner change can begin. He comes to an end of himself. He's reached a point of self-disgust. He knows he's thrown his life away. He has become sick and tired of the life he has led and the crimes he committed. He knows from deep within his soul that he's done with crime.
He has made the choice, no more living for himself. No more stealing, cheating, or hurting others. For the offender, this is the first step on the road to repentance. The awareness of his guilt and the remorse for his past criminal actions will compel him to turn away from evil. Furthermore, God will never turn away a contrite heart.
Although my criminal record remains and the lives I so cruelly took can never be restored, I no longer have to be sickened with shame and regret. I don't have to say, as the people in Isaiah's day said, "I am sick." By the grace of God and through Christ's payment of himself for all my sins, I can say with a grateful heart, "I am forgiven."
D.B.
Many prisoners, including myself, when we take stock of our situation and what brought us here, will think about what we lost. Not only this, but we will think of all those we hurt. Not just the victim or victims of our crimes, but our own loved ones, as well.
Speaking for myself, I hurt and disappointed those who loved me and had big hopes for me. My adopted family and my birth family were devastated. There are no words to describe their shock and pain.
The point of all this being that when a prisoner is truly sorry, not for being apprehended as many believe, but is remorseful for hurting others as well as damaging his own life, this is when real inner change can begin. He comes to an end of himself. He's reached a point of self-disgust. He knows he's thrown his life away. He has become sick and tired of the life he has led and the crimes he committed. He knows from deep within his soul that he's done with crime.
He has made the choice, no more living for himself. No more stealing, cheating, or hurting others. For the offender, this is the first step on the road to repentance. The awareness of his guilt and the remorse for his past criminal actions will compel him to turn away from evil. Furthermore, God will never turn away a contrite heart.
Although my criminal record remains and the lives I so cruelly took can never be restored, I no longer have to be sickened with shame and regret. I don't have to say, as the people in Isaiah's day said, "I am sick." By the grace of God and through Christ's payment of himself for all my sins, I can say with a grateful heart, "I am forgiven."
D.B.
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