Starving Inmates
Good News –May 2019 – Grace & Truth Magazine
Starving Inmates
Most prison inmates are starving. You might think that I am talking about food, but I am not. So what am I talking about? Spiritual starvation. Individuals are in prison because their longing to fill spiritual hunger drove them to drugs, alcohol, crime and pride. That drive to fill their void got stronger by the day. It became so normal to wake up each morning with spiritual hunger pains that it turned into part of their natural lives. Their desire numbed them to the consequences of their quests. It is the sad reality.
Proverbs 27:7 says, “One who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet” (ESV). Basically, when one is full he will not be hungry. Nothing tempts such a person because he is full, content and in need of no more. However, when one is hungry, even things that don’t taste good will be delicious.
I can testify and be a witness that prison can drive a person to participate in things that one never intended doing yet gave into because at the time even the bitter tasted sweet. That is why Christ is very important. He can fill hungry souls with love, mercy and grace. Those so filled will be too full to even take a second look at something else.
We need to be filled with God. The love, joy and peace of the Lord give a foundation to resist temptations, impure motives, adultery, immorality, addictions and even sin-driven depression. However, if one does not have God and this goodness, he will always be seeking ways to be filled with ungodly things, making excuses and convincing one’s self that even the bitter tastes sweet.
What do you seek to satisfy your hunger? The bread of life and living water that Christ has to offer are available to you (see Jn. 6:35, 4:10-14). These are the only things that can fill your void. Accept God’s offer while you can! We can tell you how.
By Adrian Torres (adapted)