In chatting about my last blog with a friend, the discussion turned to the description of the Apostle Paul’s jail cell I mentioned in my last post. My description probably more accurately described the conditions Paul suffered during his second imprisonment at the Mamertine Prison Dungeon where he lived his final years, before being beheaded approximately AD 68. The latest common theology for the timeline of the book of Colossians (which I referenced in my last blog) is more than likely AD 62, just prior to Paul’s release from his first prison sentence (SEE: ACTS 24-26). It’s important to understand that during this first imprisonment, Paul was under house arrest (a house that he rented & received visitors) and not incarcerated at Mamertine Prison. My description of a dank, dark prison cell was inaccurate, even though I’m sure to the Apostle Paul, despite the accommodations, the incarceration still felt dark and ominous.

So, why am I telling you all of this? Answer: transparency and being able to admit I was wrong.

I find both of these things to be incredibly lacking in today’s age. It seems everyone has an agenda, either blatant or hidden these days and we struggle as a society to admit when we’re wrong.

Why is that?

Simple – we are a broken people, living in a broken world, controlled by a master deceiver … the father of all lies. John 8:44 (ESV) ‘You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and father of lies.’ Let’s be honest, Satan hates us, he hates this world, and he hates God. His one true desire is to see us destroy ourselves.

Don’t be fooled, spiritual warfare is a real thing, not just something you read about in a good novel or a story-line of the latest box-office thriller. Angels & Demons do exist in this present darkness (to coin Frank Peretti), and Satan is always prowling around like a roaring lion, seeking to someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). His attack is multi-faceted and comes us at several ways – pride, lust and anger (just to name a few). In dealing with men in ministry groups, the motorcycle set and in the workplace, probably the single biggest weakness I see the Adversary use is our pride. Some might say pride is the original sin, as pride was behind Satan’s rebellion against God.

We’ll talk more about this in days to come, but back to my original point – putting my pride aside, I can admit when I’m wrong, and It’s important for me to accurately reflect the environment Paul was writing from in his first imprisonment. And in full-transparency, I DO have an agenda. That agenda is to share about my relationship with God and ALL he’s done for me on my journey of Faith … January of 2022 I was ready to end my life, but the Hound of Heaven was relentless in His pursuit of me and forced me to my knees, where I surrendered my life back to the Father and invited Jesus back into my heart as my Redeemer, my Lord, my Savior. My life hasn’t been the same since – every day I thank him for the breath in my lungs and another opportunity to make a difference, according to His plan & purpose.

Are pride, lust and anger destroying your life? If so – I know a guy that can help …

Repentance is the tear in the eye of faith. -Dwight L. Moody