We Knew Instantly that the Nightmare Was Over

I was reading an old World Magazine on my recent trip and one brief article really stood out in my mind.

It had to do with two U.S. journalists who were sentenced to 12 years’ hard labor in a North Korean prison. They had already served 140 days (can you imagine doing hard labor in a North Korean prison for over three months?!), when suddenly, in a moment, everything changed for them:

U.S. journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee were stunned to see the man standing behind the door in a Pyongyang meeting room on August 4: former President Bill Clinton. “We were shocked, but we knew instantly in our hearts that the nightmare of our lives was finally coming to an end.”

I remember gasping as I read those words on the plane. I instantly teared up too.

Why?

Because those women knew immediately that the man sitting in that room, Mr. Clinton, had the power and influence to save them. (Even if he didn’t have any official authority in North Korea. He surely had whatever was needed to set them free.)

Oh! Can you imagine? What a powerful illustration of exactly how every single day is for us who are in Christ, a new creation.

Once we were children of darkness, but now we are light in the Lord.
Once we were children of the devil, but now we belong to the Triune God.

Even in our ongoing struggle with satan, the world, and our Old Man/sin nature, we need only look at our Prophet, Priest, and King to see that He has the power, influence, and authority to set us free.

(Praise His Name!)

Oh, and just to be clear, I am in no way equating Bill Clinton with Jesus. The story was just an excellent reminder to me of the One Who sets me free from my prison.

Thank God that our freedom has been paid for (at great cost)!
 

“Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.”

Alleluia & Amen!

And g’nite, friends.

Yours,
Tara B.