FREEDOM IN BONDAGE

Martin K Agwu

To the unbelieving heart, it sounds hypocritical when one says "God, I thank Thee for my affliction."  But to the saved, he knows that "in everything, give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. "( 1 Thess 5:18 ).

I was a Roman Catholic by birth. I was well soaked with the Catholic doctrine and did all that I was asked to do in the name of worshipping God. It is needless going into the details but one thing was very certain, I was never a Christian. All they did for me was to baptise me, confirmed me and finally they "confused" me. The truth was far from me, not because I did not want to know it but because nobody taught me. It was through the bitterness of imprisonment, through affliction and agony, that I was forced to start asking questions as to the existence of God. It is in this difficult place that I discovered the sufficiency of His grace.

Till today, I am still convinced that I was not supposed to have been sent to prison. But by an act of God, I was convicted and I became a prisoner of circumstances. I wept bitterly as I was separated from my family, loved ones and friends. But from somewhere, I did not know, God was watching over me. I thought I had been rejected by Him. At one time, I felt hopeless without a sense of direction but He had His plans for me.

Four months after my imprisonment a wonderful change took place in my life. The effect will remain in me as long as I live. Praise the Lord. It was a Saturday afternoon after I had smoked my last cigarette. It seemed to me as if somebody was speaking to me. There was an inner urge, very forceful asking me to move to where some prisoners were studying the Bible. I had never been used to such things being a Catholic and I resisted. I had been a defender of the Catholic faith. What will people say when they see and hear that I had made an about turn? So many thoughts crossed my mind. Later, I bowed to the dictates of the inner urge. I took an old Bible which had the whole of the books of Genesis ad Revelation torn off. It was a gift from a friend who was regaining his freedom. I had unconsciously kept it and never opened it. I got to the Prison Chapel and joined in the worship. Many were surprised at seeing me. Many had witnessed to me, but I had never given in. As a Catholic I had been taught to reject anything that was anti-Catholic. I was not to read anything that was not pro-Catholic.

The message came from a visiting preacher. It seemed as if it was just meant for me. As he was speaking, something was happening within me. A battle raged heavily in my heart. A call to confession of sins was made. It seemed as if my spiritual eyes were opened and I saw clearly my spiritual wretchedness and surrendered to Christ there and then. I invited Him into my heart. He came in immediately, forgave me my sins and saved me. I was saved and I knew it. I began to realise the love of God. I then understood that my imprisonment has been a blessing in disguise; for what I refused when I was free, I have received in bondage.

The change in me was quiet, dramatic and instantaneous. The new change in me was noticed by many of my friends. Many old friends mocked, jeered and made derogatory remarks about my new found faith. I lost many of these friends; they felt that they could not cope with my new way of life. Everything about God started to take priority in my life. The Bible became the most valuable asset to me. Within the next two months I started to witness to other inmates.

I communicated the news of my salvation to my family and some friends outside the prison. To my beloved wife, my salvation was an answer to her prayer. She has been a believer and a Protestant, but by marriage she was made a Catholic. My parents could not believe their ears and some friends said I had taken the decision because I found myself in a tight corner. They expected I would decamp or retreat after a few months. But the grace of God has been sufficient to me. There is no turning back. May the Lord be my strength. I realise that God did not mean to hurt me but through affliction, He revealed Himself to me. I joined the psalmist and affirm that "It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy statutes" (Ps 119:71 ).

In a few months' time, I will regain my physical freedom. My spiritual freedom has been settled here once and for all on the day I surrendered to Christ.

Lord, I thank Thee for my affliction, I have no regrets on being a prisoner. I am ready and willing to be used by Thee, Lord, in any capacity, not only here in prison but outside the prison where many Nigerians have continued to live as if there is no God. Like a coin, Lord spend me to the glory of Thy name.

(This is the testimony of Martin K Agwu who received his salvation in a Nigerian Prison cell.)

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Calvary Tract Ministry
Calvary Pandan Bible-Presbyterian Church
201 Pandan Gardens Singapore 609337
Tel: (65) 6560 3885 | Fax: (65) 6566 3806
Email: calbp@pacific.net.sg
Website: http://calvarypandan.org