A breaking news headline on the radio today caused us to laugh until, that is, we discovered the seriousness of the situation. The focussed newsreader announced:
"Three sex offenders are on the run after escaping from a Melbourne psychiatric hospital. The trio escaped from the hospital which provides psychiatric treatment for criminals. Victorian Health Minister said the men jumped over a wall at the Statewide Forensic Services secure facility..."
Secure facility? Sounds quite ironic ~ even laughable! Yet following through on the development of this news this evening led us to become aware that the current law renders the lawkeepers powerless to act in arresting these escapees until a warrant is issued ~ all because they have been ordered under the care of a goverment department. Again, that is no laughing matter!
We prayed that these escapees might be found quickly and safely without others being hurt in the process. so that they can successfully complete their rehabilitative treatment.
Praise God for answered prayer! Just as I write these words, a report has come to hand that these men have been located and returned to the facility from which they fled.
This all proves that, though we often feel powerless when put in situations beyond our control, we can always know the strength of God within to experience personal victory every time. And that's seriously both helpful and hopeful!
Romans 5:6 and 8:3 (NIV)
"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly...For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering."
