Would you rather be shaken by an angel or an earthquake? Yesterday’s earthquake, as relatively minor as it was, shook houses, pets, people, and Facebook posts from people in our area, and our already weary minds from what has been an unusually difficult year.
It reminded me of a few weeks ago when my reading through Acts had brought me to one of the memorable miracles surrounding Paul’s ministry. He and Silas were imprisoned for teaching about Jesus and they were having a worship service there in the dungeon. There were other prisoners in there too, and we are told that they were listening to them. Probably wondering what there was to sing about, but curious, nonetheless.
About midnight, an earthquake shook the place. From the foundation to the floors and doors. And suddenly, everyone in that prison was released from their chains. But no one left. Maybe they were all so stunned by what had happened that they didn’t yet realize they could get out. Or maybe they realized that just because the doors were open did not mean they were free.
Now, the jailor didn’t know they had not taken the opportunity to escape, and he was likely so afraid of what would happen to him if they had gotten away that he was ready to take his own life with his sword. Paul intervened and cried out that everyone was still there, not to harm himself. The story goes on to tell about how this guard and his whole household became believers as a result of this miracle. Or maybe it was because of the message…
In sitting with this passage, I noticed several things:
If I am awake at midnight these days it would probably, in all honesty, be filled with worry about something. It would not likely be filled with worship. But if Paul and Silas had been worrying instead of praying and singing, I wonder if this miracle would have happened?
The other prisoners were loosened from their chains, but they were not yet free. I thought about how many years I walked around, freed from my chains to walk in my true self as a new creation, yet living enslaved to my false self – what most of us think of as the flesh.
This freedom seemed to be a threat to the guard because it was a threat to his authorities. Make no mistake, there are forces at work that would like to keep us in the prisons of our own making.
And I love this one: Paul and Silas’s kindness and forgiveness toward the jailor resulted in the washing of their wounds and breaking bread in community! When we return good for evil, it releases so much potential for our own continued healing and provision!
I guess this shook up the officials to the point they sent word to Paul and Silas that they were free to go. But Paul was not satisfied with this. He wanted an apology. I wondered why. Was it his pride? Maybe…But I think it was to teach us that humility does not always bow to wrong-doing. Sometimes it is important to call attention to injustice.
Our false self is what keeps us depending on some behavior, some circumstance or condition, or some person for life and meaning. Our false self is anything that keeps us tied to coping with life through good behavior or bad. Neither our good looking flesh or our poorly behaving flesh can set us free to live lives that are fruitful and satisfying. And often, we don’t even know we are still living in prison with the door wide open.
A few chapters before this, we saw another jailhouse break. That time is was Peter, and he was shaken by an angel, not an earthquake. I’m not really sure which would be more terrifying! God in his wisdom knows what we need to bring our freedom, along with just the right circumstances that are an opportunity to share our story with others.
My prayer: Lord, help me be indifferent as to the method of your choosing to free me from the prison of my false self and forming me more into the image of Christ: angel or earthquake. Amen
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