John Owen once wrote, “A dungeon with Christ is a throne. A throne without Christ is a hell.”
At first glance, this seems like a dramatic statement, but when we look at Scripture, we find that it holds a deep and powerful truth. The presence of Christ is what makes any situation bearable, and more than that, it is what makes life itself truly worth living.
Think of Paul and Silas in that dark Philippian prison. Beaten, chained, and surrounded by cold stone walls, they had every reason to despair. And yet, what did they do? They prayed and sang hymns to God (Acts 16:25). Their dungeon became a place of worship, not because their circumstances changed, but because Christ was with them. They knew that even in suffering, they were not abandoned.
On the other hand, history is full of kings and rulers who had everything—power, wealth, comfort—and yet lived in misery. Solomon, one of the richest and wisest men to ever live, came to this conclusion: “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher. Everything is vanity!” (Ecclesiastes 1:2, BSB). Without God, all the riches and pleasures of the world are empty. A throne without Christ is nothing more than a prison of the soul.
Owen’s words challenge us to examine where we find our true security. Do we think that comfort, status, or success will satisfy us? Or do we believe that the presence of Christ is what truly matters? The world tells us that happiness comes from having more, but Jesus tells us the opposite: “Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25, BSB).
A person can have nothing and still have everything if they have Christ. And a person can have everything yet have nothing if they are without Him. That is why countless martyrs have gone to their deaths with songs on their lips, while kings have wasted away in despair despite their wealth.
Where does our treasure lie? In earthly thrones that will crumble, or in the eternal kingdom of Christ? If He is with us, even the lowest place becomes a throne. If He is absent, even the highest throne becomes a hell.
Related Passages: Psalm 73:25-26, Philippians 3:8, Hebrews 13:5
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