True Joy

As I said in my post yesterday, I went to visit a Super Max Federal Prison last night with my senior pastor and a fellow pastor to ministry to inmates. I’ve never been in that environment before. It was exactly as though I imagined. We walked into the front door, were searched, then identity checked, hand stamped and followed a very systematic process of moving to the room where religious services are held. As we were walking to the room, an alarm sounded. We stood against the wall as dozens of guards ran past us to what we assume to have been a fight. We continued on and eventually arrived at the room.

The room was decked out with a great sound system, drum set, guitars and guitar amps as well as theatrical lights. It was pretty impressive. There were some men there when we arrived, so we met them and spent some time getting to know them.

One of the men I met had been in prison for several years and would be for many many years to come. He had a bigger smile than you can imagine. As we talked he explained that he lived horribly on the streets, and when he was put in prison, he continued to act the same which led to him being placed in the super max. He then realized that he had violated the commands of a Holy God and that Christ was his only hope for salvation. Now he had joy. He has other inmates ask him all the time if he’s having visitors because he is so happy.

Why shouldn’t he be happy? He’s found his advocate before God.