LightGrams
April 10, 2025
Volume 29, Number 13
Escape rooms have been all the rage for the last several years. Though I have never had the experience, I think I understand the point: You’re locked inside an area and must find a way to escape. Groups often take on the challenge together, and money is paid for a limited amount of time in that room. If you fail to figure out how to escape, they’ll release you when your time is up.
“The World’s Smallest Escape Room” can be found in Barcelona, Spain. “Catalepsy” is its name, a medical condition for a person who is immobile for a time; the condition is often mistaken for death. In this escape challenge, two people are placed inside adjacent coffins – yes, you read that right – and their challenge is to solve a series of puzzles in order to be released. They use an intercom system to communicate with each other, and they have 30 minutes to break out.
News articles describe this experience as something to be avoided by those who are claustrophobic. I’ve seen plenty of caskets in my time, and most of them appear to be comfy. But I’m sure the experience changes once the lid is closed. With little space to move around, one’s nerves could escalate in a hurry. No thanks, I’m not interested in this escape room!
Sometimes our entertainment is too closely aligned with reality, and that is apparent with Catalepsy. A fact of life of which most of us are aware is proclaimed in Hebrews 9:27: “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” Some live in denial of this truth, but the Bible assures us of its certainty. For many of us, a casket is a future place of abode; choosing the option of cremation doesn’t change the fact of our mortality.
If these thoughts trouble you (as they do most of us), here’s another verse of Scripture to consider: “But has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10). The idea of immortality was once a shadowy dream, but Jesus has brought it to light.
Jesus was once buried in a tomb, an ancient version of our coffins. For three days it appeared He, like all others, would not escape. But as all four gospel accounts of His life record, Jesus broke free from the bonds of death by the power of God. He declares this truth in Revelation 1:18: “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.” He escaped the inescapable!
Better still, He solved the puzzle for you and me: “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:14,15).
I don’t expect to be aware when my deceased body is placed inside a coffin. But even if I am, I will be comforted by the knowledge that Jesus has solved the puzzle of sin and death. The grave is not inescapable. Jesus will call me out to live (see John 5:28,29).
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2025, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).
“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “[email protected]” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.
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