Perhaps you saw the
local news reports recently regarding the man who was released from jail after
serving 15 years for a crime he didn’t commit.
New evidence cleared him of the charges that kept him behind bars for
the last decade and a half of his life.
It’s difficult to even imagine paying such a high price for something
you didn’t do. Imagine the anger you
would have toward the injustice of it all.
Imagine the despair you would feel after a while when you realized that
your professions of innocence were useless.
Imagine the gratefulness you would feel for those who kept trying to
help you. Imagine how good it would feel
to be free once again.
Now imagine getting
off the hook for crimes for which you WERE guilty. Let’s say you were on death row waiting to be
executed. You knew as well as anyone you
deserved everything you were going to get and never maintained otherwise. I’m not talking here about getting released
because of some technicality or because of the unscrupulous trickery of your
defense team. In this case, someone who
wasn’t guilty of your crimes volunteered to take your place on death row and
receive the lethal injection instead of you.
The guard unlocks your cell and escorts you to the main gate of the
prison. Your shackles are removed and
you walk away -- free from the penalty of your crimes.
Friend, this is what
God through Jesus Christ has done for you.
As the Incarnate Word, He was executed in your place for your crimes
(sins). You didn’t deserve it because
you were guilty. But He did it
anyway. He died for YOUR sins (1
Corinthians 15:3). He gave Himself for
YOUR sins (Galatians 1:4). He bore YOUR sins in His body on the cross (1 Peter
2:24).
As you breathe the
crisp air of freedom, are you grateful for the One Who took YOUR place? Always remember that your freedom came at a
great price and live as if you believe it.
God loves you!
Mike
1 comment:
Amen!!!
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