Captured

I held my breath as I watched the men wearing black steal her away in the dark. But I knew someone else was watching too. He dove into the water after her captors, frantically swimming to catch up with the boat that was carrying her away faster and faster. The chase went on, and she was stolen away to a dark place, to an erie castle where there were cruel men who held her hostage. They put her in a cage with no bars and no locks. It was just a short piece of rock overhanging an infinite black pit. There was only one way out, by a bridge which had only one lever, on the opposite side of the gaping hole. As I watched these events play out on the screen, my eyes grew wide in anticipation. "Where is he?" I thought, "And how is he going to get to her?"

And of course, he found a way. Coming to the castle unarmed, he announced his presence to the men waiting for him and asked to be led to the master of the castle. He informed them he had a message from the king, but he wished to know first that the lady was unharmed. Then he asked to see her. Annoyed by his presence and suspecting no threat, the "bad guy" let him go. My heart began to beat faster. They led him into the cage with no locks, and he looked across at the lady, meeting her eyes, as if to reassure her that all would be well. When they attempted to lead him back, he refused, and with a few quick movements he had knocked one out and sent the other tumbling into the pit. He quickly pulled the lever, lowering the bridge. Even as he did voices echoed in the tunnel, and there were more men to fight. He screamed for her to jump onto the bridge, and she clung to the edge while he fought off more of the villains. When she finally made it to the other side, they ran out together, hearing their pursuers angry shouts behind them. I took a deep breath. Even though they still had to go over a waterfall to make it out of the castle safely, somehow I knew it would be okay, because she was with him.


What a classic story. While the rest of the movie may not have had a happy ending, my mind is still occupied with those few intense moments, my heart still races as I ponder the brave rescue. I thought about how much I wanted the brave knight to reach her. The more I thought about it, the more I was reminded of a real life drama playing out all around me.

I watch their face as they describe a flood that brought destruction to their hometown, I look into their eyes and see the emptiness as they share their frustration with life. I hear the weariness in their voices as I watch them do their best to make it through another long day. Sometimes they hide it behind laughter, sometimes they appear so confident and in control, and I'm sure there are moments when they feel truly alive. But what happens when those moments pass? Henry David Thoreau says it well, "The mass of men live lives of quiet desperation." They are not just people I read about in a story. They surround me everyday. Some of them are people I know. People I love. As I watch them my heart breaks for them, and I cry out in desperation, "Please God, rescue them!"

2 Timothy 3:26 says they have been captured by a merciless enemy to do his will, Satan himself. Like the story, there is only one way they can escape from their prison without locks, a prison they walk and live and breath in every day. Below all they can see is blackness. No matter how much positive thinking they do, no matter how much they may try to ignore the situation, there is only one way out. Over the bridge. There is only one person who can rescue them. Jesus. I am convinced that once they grab onto him, once they choose to let go of the wall and trust him to bring them safely to eternity, they will be okay.

I know that because I have been there. He came after me, he rescued me, and he is with me today. I know I am safe when I'm with him, and I know he will never leave me. Now, let me tell you what I didn't say. I didn't say there wouldn't be any more scary parts in the story. I didn't say all their problems would go away. Remember the story? They still had to run away and go over a waterfall to get away from the bad guys. And on top of that, they had to ride through the rain to get back home. Things were just as complicated, if not more from that point on. The rescue had succeeded, they made the bad guy mad. Of course there would be trouble. But now... there is hope. The bumpy ride wont last forever. Eternity is a long time, and it can start right now for those willing to grab on, to trust completely in Jesus. For those who choose to take him at his word, to believe that he can and will bring them through this life, and will plead their case before the Judge of the earth once and for all, as well as moment by moment.

But you know what scares me the most about this true story? That they will stay in the dungeon. Can you imagine what the reaction would be if, after the brave knight risks his life for her, killing of all the bad guys, quickly lowering the bridge and screaming, "Get on!" the lady just looked at him and said, "Thanks for the effort, really... I appreciate it, but I kind of like it here. I don't think I want to come with you." People would be furious! You know why that's not how the movie goes? Because no one would go and see it! Yet what if my friends have the chance to escape and they don't take it?

This subject has been on my mind for a few weeks now. I think God has been trying to get my attention, as things I've been reading and hearing and watching have all seemed to come back to this one difficult subject. I have been trying to figure it out for years. How do I communicate all of this to the people in my life? What part do I play in their rescue? Am I doing my job? How can I possibly do justice to this message without sounding cliche and triggering the stereotype shields in their brain when it comes up? I don't have the answers to any of these questions. All I know is that it hurts to see them trapped, and it hurts to just stand and watch. But this I do know: as a wise woman once said, "They don't need me, they need Jesus."

Lord, please have mercy. I am inadequate for this task, but I so badly want to see them rescued. My heart aches for them. Chase them Lord. Chase them until you catch them. Tackle them if you have to. Snatch them from the fire Lord, and from the despair that envelops a life without you in it. Show me what You want me to do. I don't want to miss it Lord. Put me in the right place at the right time, open the doors and open my mouth to speak clearly. Don't let my courage be snatched from me at the opportune moment. Don't let me shrink back. Open their hearts Lord. Nothing can change until You catch them. Show us what part You would have us play in the Divine chase, the Divine rescue. Thank you Lord for loving us enough to come after us. Thank you for rescuing me.


"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." Colossians 1:13-14.

Photo by Ben Bird http://www.flickr.com/photos/minkypaw/