[Lilole`me]

One of my all-time, favorite movies is The Rescuers, Down Under. I'm not sure all the reasons as to why I love that movie...perhaps it reminds me of my childhood, or maybe because it is set in Australia (oh how I long to go to Australia!). Whatever the reason may be, I love that movie. And I have also learned a valuable lesson from a scene in it. One I hope to accurately share.

The scene takes place in the "jail" of the poacher. (I cannot remember his name at the moment, but that doesn't matter i guess). There are all the animals, and Cody (the child star of the movie) locked in their cages, and chained to the walls. My favorite character in jail is Frank.


Now, Frank is trying to figure out a way to break free of his cage and get the keys that will be able to free everyone. It is obvious that this is a daily routine by the response he is getting from his jail mates. And it's a routine that has been to no avail. That is until this moment. Frank is able to stick his tail into the key hole and pick the lock, and without him even realizing his cell door swings open. Upon realizing he has gained his freedom he begins to run around and jump and shout; "I'm free! I'm free!!" Everyone responds by hushing him and reminding him to get the keys and set them all free. He runs into quite a bit of trouble trying to reach the keys, so he moves a box (very loudly) over in order to reach. He finally gets them and lets out a shriek!!
Then...in comes Joanna, the gila monster lizard that guards their jail. Frank begins frantically running in circles while the others are shouting, "give me the keys! Give me the keys!". Frank finally runs back to the safest place he knows, his cage and shuts himself in. Frank lets out a sigh of relief...Joanna puts the keys back up on the hook. Frank let's out another sigh...but this one is not of relief...but in realization he is caged once again.

Now, funny as that scene may be, I've found it to be true of my life far too often. So many times I have found myself in a spiritual cage, locked in a jail of selfishness and so many other things that have held me captive. I've wanted to walk in freedom with God, and see freedom brought into the lives of those around me. And I've spent so many times working so hard to break free.

And then I've found it. Freedom. So many times my freedom can bring me so much excitement that I forget the purpose of why I fought for that freedom.
Provers 24:11 tells us to: "Deliver those who are drawn toward death, And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter."
We have been called to release others to the same freedom we have found.

But it's no easy thing to fight for the freedom of others. It's a strain, and once we have the keys you best believe the enemy will advance in. If satan can keep the prisoners in fear, he can keep them in control, keep them from their freedom.

So what happens when the enemy comes in? All to often we get scared, and we run. The fear overtakes the memory of the fight to get there, and the purpose ahead, and we run. And all too often we run back to the safest place we know, our cage. We sigh in relief while the enemy puts the keys back out of our reach...not realizing until it is too late that we have locked ourselves once again.

Each of us has a different "cage". For some it's complacency, for others it's relationships with the opposite sex, music, cutting, food. Each of us has had a cage of "comfort" that we've "longed so badly to break free of", but continually wanted to run back to. I have been there. Some days it's hard to not go back there.

But I want to challenge you as I am being challenged myself, to walk in true freedom. To live a life worthy of the calling God has placed on your life. To live your life in deep pursuit of God, and in the pursuit of bringing freedom to others. Don't forsake your freedom...too many things in your life are relying on it, and too many other people are relying on it.

You can break free of your cage. You have access to the keys. Freedom is yours. So, what will you do with it?

Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you. Galatians 5:1 (The Message translation)

[DaGeek]

Wow, that was really good. I love that scene in the movie, and I never thought about it that way. Thanks for posting this.

[Gollum2901]

Wow amazing thanks!

[Peachie86]

We have a Young Adults group that meet at my church twice a month and afterwards we go to one of our houses and watch a movie (mostly Disney cartoons) and we watched this movie last month... so I'm glad it was fresh in my memory. You did a great job of pulling out a very valuable lesson to be learned from that scene. Thank you for sharing with others, and making me more aware of the "cages" in my life that I need to break out of.

Have a blessed day