Reach the world with Christ's message

I
n 1675, John Bunyan spent six months in jail for preaching publicly without the required license. During a previous 12 years in prison he had authored multiple books. Although he had started writing his now-famous book, “Pilgrim’s Progress” during the 12-year imprisonment, he finished it during the six-month stay in jail. He might have had this in view when
he is reported to have optimistically said:
“I have been away from my writing too long. Maybe this is not so much a prison as an office from which I can reach the world with Christ’s message.”
Another preacher, the Apostle Paul, was also often put in jail for preaching the Gospel — Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross and resurrection from the grave to save us from our sins. With no disrespect intended, I can imagine him seeking out each town’s local jail thinking he likely would be spending the night there!
Like Bunyan, Paul wrote several books during his time in jail; several are included in the canon of Scripture (The Holy Bible). And like Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress,” Paul’s letters continue to impact and encourage many today. Here’s an excerpt from his letter to the Philippians (1:7-8;12):
“… for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus … Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.”
Current “social distancing” and “shelter in place” orders may feel like being confined to a jail — especially for those who “long” to gather as the Church. Perhaps, like Bunyan, we instead should say: “I have been away from my [fill in the blank] too long. Maybe this is not so much a prison as an office from which I can reach the world with Christ’s message.” Amen!