1073. Onesimus in Jail

Onesimus in Jail

"Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the Gospel** (Phm_1:13).

In jail? Assuredly. How do we know? Because Paul would, for his own sake have retained him there, ever after his jail term was expired.

1. There was the arrest. The offense which put Onesimus in jail we do not know. It was one of many things. Perhaps with his money gone, Onesimus had sought to meet his needs by further robbery. Perhaps he had fallen in with some crooks and was caught with them. We do not know. What we do know is that he was lodged in jail.

"Too bad," you say. Not at all. It was the best thing that could have happened. As long as Onesimus was at large he would not stop to think. As long as Onesimus had plenty of illy-gotten gain, he had no thought of God.

It was when the prodigal had spent his all that he thought of home. It was when the woman had wasted all her living on the physicians and was none better, that she turned to Christ.

Our Lord has often heard the prisoner's groan. And He heeds their cry, when it is genuine. He opens prisons bars and sets the prisoner free.

2. There was the meeting with Paul. Perhaps as Onesimus was dragged down the corridor of the Roman jail he was seen and recognized by Paul.

The Apostle had more or less liberty among the prisoners at Rome. He soon discovered in the jail, the servant of his own beloved Philemon.

At first we can imagine the terror that struck the heart of Onesimus as he was accosted by Paul. In his inner soul he cried, "Discovered at the last!" It was bad enough to be cast into jail upon some trivial offense. It was worse to be discovered by Paul, and perhaps, reported by him as a runaway slave from Colosse.

But matters were not so bad after all. Paul did not "blow on him." He sought his good. Somewhere alone he talked it all over with this evil youth. With tears Onesimus told his story–told it all, in truth. Paul knew the servant was sincere.

It is always so. Sin will out. It may be covered for a while, but it must soon be known.

Whither can a sinner fly that God will not see him? If he ascends into Heaven God is there. If he digs down into the pit, even there will God find him out. Perhaps not now, but if not now, surely by and by it will be known.

Psa_139:7-12 : "Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence? If I ascend up into Heaven, Thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee."

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR