The long airplane ride would soon be over. Since we were from another country, the flight attendant handed us forms to fill out for the immigration authorities in Malaysia. On the card in bold print were these words:
BE FOREWARNED,
DEATH FOR DRUG
TRAFFICKERS
UNDER MALAYSIAN LAW
This warning is given in many other places too, so everyone knows what happens if you sell illegal drugs in that country. There is no excuse for those who are caught.
They actually do put to death those who are proven guilty. You might think that no one would take the chance and risk their lives by selling illegal drugs. This is not so. Many are willing to risk their lives, trying to make a lot of money. In 1990 there were 94 people arrested for selling illegal drugs! If they are proven guilty in court, they will be hung. The death sentence is mandatory! This means that the judge has no choice but to condemn a guilty person to be hung.
Are you thinking how foolish those 94 people were? A life is worth more than money! Yes, those 94 people were very foolish to sell illegal drugs. You may think that you would not be so foolish, but are you doing the same thing in a different way? God has given us an important warning too. He says, “The wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23).
Does that stop people from sinning? No, it does not. Does God actually carry out the penalty? Yes, He does. There is much proof of it. Everywhere you go in the world there are graveyards.
If a citizen of another country is proven guilty in Malaysia, his own country is not able to save him from the penalty of his crime. He has broken a Malaysian law. He is guilty! Some countries call this punishment brutal, but there is no excuse. Many warnings have been given. He is guilty and must pay the penalty. There is no remedy - he must be put to death.
Men may say that God is too kind and loving to put people in hell. They prefer to think that He will not carry out His warning that the wages of sin is death. Not so! God will enforce His penalty.
God is indeed kind and loving, and although He will enforce His penalty, He offers each person a remedy. In fact, the Bible tells us that God has provided the remedy Himself. “God is love. In this was manifested [shown] the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him . . . not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation [sacrifice] for our sins.” 1 John 4:8-108He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:8‑10).
It is not now a question of whether or not we are sinners. We are guilty and the penalty must be paid. The only remedy is to trust in the Lord Jesus, because He paid the price when He died on the cross. He says, “He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.” John 6:4747Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. (John 6:47).
If you will accept the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, your penalty is canceled because He paid it for you. If you refuse to accept this remedy, there is no hope. You must pay the penalty yourself. How sad this would be since God has made a way of escape. You have sinned, but God says He will forgive you if you believe on His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Will you accept His remedy?
ML-05/02/1993