The Escape Room

The plans were made months before.
The plans were set for the weekend after my birthday.
Everyone was coming home.
Everyone was excited to be together.

Five children and two of their spouses had the weekend free.
Getting something on the calendar a bit in advance always helps.
The idea was good one.
There was only one problem: there are nine of us and only eight could participate.

The plans were to go to an Escape Room.
Some of us had done an Escape Room before.
This time, it would be all of us, less one.
My husband offered to sit this one out.

This Escape Room had a Harry Potter theme.
Since my husband never read the books or saw any of the movies, he stayed home.
The rest of us were very excited.
We all hoped that we would escape, unlike our last Escape Room, which needed one more clue.

We took two cars and traveled about forty minutes away from home.
Rules were given to us once we got there.
We were ready to begin.
We were told that the first room had minimal lighting and would be a bit dark.

We entered the room in the fictitious prison that held us.
Our eyes had to adjust to the minimal light.
If you were claustrophobic, the first room would be a problem.
All eight of us began to gather clues.

The brilliant part of an Escape Room is that everyone uses their gifts to solve the mystery.
It helps if everyone in the room knows each other well.
You know each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
After some frustrating turns and failed attempts, we unlocked the first door of the prison.

We entered the next room, which had a low door.
This room was much bigger and it was filled with clues.
There were things on the wall to which we had to pay attention.
There were secret messages in the paintings.

We had one hour to solve the mystery and escape the room.
We were on camera the whole time.
Additional clues are given, which can help but can also make things a bit more difficult.
We looked up at the timer and saw that over half of our allotted time had been used.

When you are locked in a room for a time, you have to work together.
You bounce ideas off one another.
You work together to get the job done.
Everyone supports the other because of the mission at hand.

There were two teachers, a lawyer, nurse, web designer, e-commerce specialist, and a student.
I was the mom of the group and offered a bit of help from time to time.
Being a lover of words, I tended to notice words that proved helpful.
We all used our strengths and gifts for one purpose.

We had five minutes left on the timer.
We had a sinking feeling that we would get close to the solution but fail to unlock the door.
Finally, with three minutes to spare, it all came together.
With a little over a minute left on the timer, the door unlocked.

It was an amazing feeling when we heard the door unlock.
We talked and clapped and were so excited to have solved the mystery.
We were prisoners for an hour.
Now, we were free.

We had a picture taken, which is customary for all groups as they exit.
We talked about our experience as we drove in the car.
We continued to talk about it when we went out for ice cream.
We discussed it later that night when we came home and told my husband all about it.

We escaped the room.
We used our gifts and worked together.
We had one mission.
That one mission was our only goal.

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:16-20)

We, as believers in the Lord Jesus, have one mission.
We are to go and make disciples.
There are people who are bound by the enemy, lost, and locked in prison.
We have a mission to open their prison doors and loose their chains with the Gospel.

The One who has the key to unlock the prison door is the One who died in our place.
He is the One who entered the prison of this world to show us the way out.
He is the One who was beaten and hung on a cross and took our punishment.
He is the One who took the agony on Himself so that we could be free.

So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)

The Gospel is the key to unlock the prison door.
We are to share the Gospel and teach others about the Lord Jesus.
There is only one way out.
That way is a Person; Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

There is a way out of the Escape Room of this world.
The way out is explained in God’s Word.
We have one mission: to share the Gospel and make disciples.
How are we doing?

2 responses to “The Escape Room”

1. Beautifully written with a practical illustration!

   Carolyn

   Reply

   • Thank you, Carolyn!
     God displays His Truth everywhere!
     Gina

     Reply