AT THE Texas State Penitentiary, the Governor of the state was a visitor. The warden of the penitentiary had gathered most of the prisoners in the assembly hall to hear the governor’s speech that day. In concluding his speech the governor said he would be glad to speak with any of the men.
A large number of prisoners took advantage of the offer and one by one they came to him. Many of these men had been sentenced to life imprisonment but whether their sentences were long or short each one’s remarks were to the effect that he should be pardoned. One said he was a victim of a “frame-up,” another that the judge had blundered, another that he was not really guilty, and so on.
At last, in that long line of men, one of them told a different story. “Mr. Governor,” he said, “I just want to say that I am guilty. I did what they sent me here for. But, Mr. Governor, I think I have paid for my wrong. Now if you pardoned me I would do everything I could to be a good citizen and to prove myself worthy of your mercy.”
Of all those prisoners who spoke to the governor, how many of them deserved to be pardoned? Only one. The one who said frankly, “I am guilty.” And the governor did pardon that man and set him free.
So it is with God. “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23). But how many of us would say to God that it wasn’t our fault that we sinned, or that we were not so bad as someone else. Can God forgive such? No. The ones whom God forgives are those who confess that they are guilty sinners, that they have sinned against a holy God. If you will take that place, and then accept God’s offer of salvation through Jesus Christ, you can be saved.
ML-01/19/1964