Held Captive

So I'm taking this Bible Study with Beth Moore on Breaking Free. It is all about being held captive by things that keep you from living your life abundantly in Christ. I got a really good illustration of that over the weekend.

Sunday we were on our way home from our long weekend in California. We dutifully arrived at the airport in ample time to make our flight. We got on the plane and then – we got off the plane. It seems there was some problem that needed fixing and there was a part that needed to be flown in and we would have to wait and it could be awhile and go sit in the terminal. We were going to be held captive.

So we are sitting in the terminal. How bad could that be? Well, we can't really go anywhere. San Francisco and all it has to offer are just a few minutes away, but we can't leave. We must stay here. We have to stay in the terminal, which isn't a bad place, but it isn't San Francisco.

The snack cart arrives. We can help ourselves to a cool beverage or a crunchy snack. Well, this isn't so bad. We have snacks! Our chairs aren't as comfortable as we would like, but really, it's not so bad. If we tried to leave we would be in real trouble, so we'll just stay here.

Oh, it's going to take awhile. The part must be flown in and won't arrive for 3 more hours. Here, have a voucher and get yourself some dinner. See, it's not so bad. We get dinner. We only get to choose from the 4 or 5 vendors in this little airport, but they aren't so bad. Really. So what if we can't leave. They do still have all our bags. But it is comfortable enough. It's not great, but it's just fine. We are taken care of in our captivity. It's not the best life, but it is a life and we are getting used to it. We simply stay at the airport.

Then we get the call. After a lifetime (yes, I'm prone to exaggerations) we hear a voice that tells us we can leave the airport. We don't have to live like this forever. We pack our carry-on bags (that are now spread out over 14 seats) and put our trust in the airline. We board the plane and begin our flight.

The best part is that we walk off the plane free. We can actually breathe free air, drive our car, and be in our home. It was a struggle to get here to be sure, but it was worth it. We are free and we are home.

Being in bondage is sort of like living in a terminal. It's fine. You get used to it. There are perks, but really, nothing beats walking in freedom. I, for one, don't want to live in a terminal. I want to breathe free air, not recirculated air. I want to walk in the sunshine, not just look it at out a window. I want to know the joy of San Francisco and Houston and HOME and not just survive where I am.

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners (of the terminal!)
Isaiah 61:1 - 3