Throughout our history, there are many who have been unable to turn around their lives and abandon the path of destruction they have set themselves upon. A very ill, chronic alcoholic for example may tragically persist in his addiction although it is destroying his liver, his brain and his life. But he will almost certainly not claim that alcohol is actually doing him a world of good! But nowadays, not only do the gravely damaged and deluded pillory the truth, they claim that the lie is in fact very good for them!

In the New Testament, Jesus describes the deluded of His time and the similarly deluded of every age:

“they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.”

And therein lies hope for us all - and the possibility of release from the dungeon chains of delusion.

In the parable of the prodigal son, Jesus raises the glorious possibility of redemption, when he proclaims that the prodigal “came to his senses” - and soon after, started the journey back home to his Father’s house.

The millions of our deluded countrymen, friends and family may also “come to their senses” - and by a miracle, return to the embrace of Him who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

• Surgeon Dr. Francis Christian