CONFINEMENT

CONFINEMENT

When Zach, our grandson, was nine years old he developed a painful condition called Sever’s Syndrome. For Zach, an avid sports participant, this was extremely trying.

The painful heel condition affects growing adolescents between the age of nine and fourteen. In this condition, the growing part of the heel bone grows faster than the tendon that connects on the back of the heel.

This tightens up the tendon and creates tension where it attaches to the heel. Eventually, the tension causes the area to become inflamed and painful. Fortunately, the condition is not serious and is usually temporary

Charlie tried to encourage Zach after he had a cast put on his foot. Charlie had been wearing a cast from his hip down to his ankle for nearly six weeks at the time this happened to Zach. Charlie’s knee cap had been removed, on what was the third operation on his left knee. Talk about confinement. Charlie was the right person to encourage Zach. Just knowing someone else was going through a hard time seemed to do the trick.

I overheard part of the phone conversation between the two and Charlie’s side of the conversation went something like this, “Son, Grandpa understands, but it will be for the best in the end. You have to think about getting well for baseball season.”

Confinement is a hard pill to swallow. We all want to be free of restraints; able to go whenever and wherever we want. After ministering in prisons, jails and detention centers for over thirty years, I can tell you unequivocally, that I have yet to meet an incarcerated, confined person that enjoys confinement.

In China, in the early 1950’s a young missionary, Geoffrey T. Bull understood confinement and its eternal purpose in a very unique way. Imprisoned for preaching the gospel, his captors placed Bull in a small bamboo cage.


The dimensions of the cage caused Bull to remain in a tortuous state. He couldn’t stretch out his full length, nor could he stand. The only time he was let out of the cage was to be beaten with rods. This went on for three years. During part of this time Bull began to notice a little spider spinning a web within the confines of the cage. The spider became his main source of diversion for weeks.

One day, after an unusually dark day of discouragement, God spoke to him. “Geoffrey, look at the spider and tell me if he is comfortable as he spins and spins his web.” There was no doubt the little spider was enjoying his task, totally oblivious to Bull’s pain, discomfort and discouragement.

Then in that sweet, still, small voice the Lord came to him again and said, “You’re feeling the pain of confinement in your little cage, Geoffrey, while the spider is going about without any thought of restraint. Geoffrey, when I came to earth I confined myself to a body. Mankind is comfortable going about in this world of sin, but I was confined.”

As the days stretched into years, Bull was able to keep his mind on what God had done for him when He became man. The Lord of glory clothed Himself with flesh; willingly confined Himself to a human body in order to die for mankind.

No, confinement isn’t easy. Charlie and Zach certainly counted the days until they were freed from the confinement of foot and leg casts. The end results for both of them were positive. Today Zach plays baseball with the best of them and Charlie doesn’t even use a cane to walk with anymore.
(Zach pictured with his dad at the 2011 softball tournament held at House of Grace. Zach never misses a game!)

For thirty-three years Jesus traveled on this earth as the Word made flesh. (John 1:14) One day that confining body was placed on a wooden cross and He took our sins upon Himself. Today He lives in heaven to intercede for us. What a mighty God, who willingly took upon Himself the sins of the world. There was an eternal purpose in that act of confinement; an eternal plan that included you and me.


If your circumstances have brought you into confinement of any kind, think about Jesus and what He did for you. He understands better than anyone what you are going through. “Cast your burden on the Lord and He shall sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved.” (Psa. 55:22)


Today, at almost 79 years young, Charlie keeps up an active lifestyle. Charlie definitely knows confinement, after 14 major surgeries! He's like the Energizer Bunny!