I’m not a movie or TV fanatic. I’m even less a fan of the trend in those media of the dark and “gritty.” So to be honest, it was with some discomfort that I wrote the Parable of the Prisoner and the Benefactor.
This parable tells the story of Riona, a young woman who becomes trapped by a drug addiction and then by slavers. Of course, were this tale told via a Hollywood production, all kinds of horrible things probably would have happened to her in addition. But I didn’t feel it necessary to go there to get the point across. (Plus, some of my kids read these parables!)
But Riona’s story could be considered more an allegory. It could be our own story—finding ourselves ensnared by the conniving plots of Satan, unsure what will become of us and even resigning ourselves to whatever unknown fate. The adversary seeks to apply his chains to each one of us.
If we have made victims of ourselves, then there’s hope.
There’s a Benefactor out there, knowing our predicament and seeking to intervene. He seeks to take us to freedom, to a place where we can become what He means us to. With Him, we can find peace.
He has already paid everything He had. So when He stretches out His hand, we may not understand all the ramifications in the moment. But it behooves us to take it.
This is who Jesus Christ is to me. He knows when I’m tempted to fall into Satan’s grasp. The stakes and the cost are high, but they weren’t too high for Him. He knows what aid and comfort I need. And He offers His hand to me every time I slip up and find myself stuck or trapped. When I’m the prisoner, I can count on His coming for me.
I hope that He means this to you too. If He doesn’t, He can.
Image by antinousdupont from Pixabay
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