Life Sentence or Full Pardon?

Once in a while, I watch this show called "Lockup".  It's a documentary style show focusing on people kept in prison.  It's sometimes sad, sometimes funny and always thought provoking.  There have been a few times that it's been very scary and disturbing to watch (and that's why I limit my time watching it).
There was one episode in particular where the prisoner being interviewed changed his demeanor and countenance so quickly that it scared the interviewer.  He went from jovial and cheery to sneering and hateful in 2.6 seconds.  One of the guards noticed the difference in him and immediately put a stop to the interview for the safety of the film crew.  The warden said that he was normally a very cordial inmate and had experienced only minimal behavioral problems from him... until recently.  Apparently, the prisoner had gotten worse as time went on.
 
The interviewer found another guy who was sitting in his cell reading his Bible.  He had been in prison for quite a while and it was for murder.  He had killed someone in a drunken rage.  Since his incarceration, he had earned his GED, taken some college courses, learned 3 languages (2 fluently) and had read the Bible through many, many times.  He also led a chapel meeting twice a week for other inmates.  He had changed in a different way while in prison.

What was the difference between these two men?  Why had one gotten worse and the other gotten better?  They were both incarcerated for murder, both had been there for over 20 years, they both had the same resources at their disposal, and they came from very similar backgrounds... Didn't seem to make sense...

I've spent some time thinking of various types of prisons lately.  Of course there's the example I just gave of the  literal prison.  Then there's the physical prison due to physical limitations on the body (ie. broken leg, brain damage, neurological diseases, etc.) and spiritual prison of the soul and various mental prisons.

I have this vision of being in prison and Jesus comes to visit me.  He sits outside my cell and just keeps me company.  We talk and laugh and cry together.  And then He hands me a key and teaches me how to use it.  It is my key to freedom.  I see the key.  I hold the key.  He tells me how to use the key.  I try once and I fail.  He encourages me to try again.  I try again, but I didn't do things exactly as He said and I fail again.  He encourages me still.  I finally listen to Him and He was right!!  It worked and I am finally freed from my cell!!    As I walk out of my prison, I see other prisoners trying to get out.  They are using their own materials and making their own keys and they don't work. They're using what appear to be keys, but they are not real. They get frustrated and angry.  They keep trying other methods, but none work.  They are all alone in their quest for freedom and they don't have anyone encouraging them to keep trying.  I ask Jesus to go help them with their freedom too and He says "You asked for my help.  Some have not.  Others have, but won't do what I say.  They're not ready to give up their own way yet."

I see people everyday trying to escape from their prisons. They try things on their own and they continually fail.  Over and over, time after time, they try and fail.  When will they learn?  What will it take for them to finally realize that they do not hold the keys to freedom?    Sometimes they go to friends for advice... and then they quickly realize that their friends are simply fellow prisoners with their own cells they're trying to escape.  They have no answers... not REAL answers.
 
Only One does.  His name is Jesus.  He holds the keys to your freedom.  Are you tired of trying on your own yet?