Prison. Have you ever been in prison? Everyone has! What do I mean by that? Of what prison am I speaking of? The prison of your mind and soul. The most desolate and awful prison you can be in.
How do you know you are in that prison? When you think ill of someone that you have a grudge against or they you, you are in prison. When you carry any amount of anger, hate, ill will, animosity, bitterness, blame, etc. etc. YOU ARE IN PRISON. When you are in prison you are never free. NEVER!!!! If these feelings do not depart from you you will NEVER BE LET OUT OF PRISON no matter how many times you call out to God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit.
In the Gospel account of Matthew 5:23-25 we read:
23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
Before anyone can go to the altar of God we must be pure of heart. What is meant by pure of heart? If we have any offenses against anyone or they us we must be free of that inner resistance, any animosity, hate, ill will, etc. etc. How do we do that? Spiritual and mental work is necessary!
When we think of someone that we have grudges against or they us for any offense we have caused, we must, when we think about them, feel love for them and send them blessings in your heart and mind. How do we know that that state of awareness of mind and heart is accomplished? This is how we know! When we no longer feel any mental or feeling resistance to them whatsoever whenever we think of that person. That is how we know. When we think of that person we thin of them with a full heart filled with love for them. We can not simply ask God for forgiveness and it is over. NO! We HAVE TO DO THE Spiritual and mental work that is necessary before we can feel the ONE NESS of Love with God in our Spirit where the altar is. We have to look in the Mirror and face ourselves.
Where is the altar of God? The altar of God is your Spirit where your Spirit and Jesus and God are One. It is NOT an altar in a church, synagogue or any other religious place. When we reconcile ourself to one who has offended us or we them we will be let out of our Spiritual Prison.