There are tens—perhaps hundreds—of thousands of people living in this country who are in it but not of it. They are the illegal aliens, people who have entered this country without going through government channels. Perhaps they slipped across a dark border and purchased false papers on the black market.
They have come to the "land of opportunity" seeking work, seeking education, seeking freedom, but there is always the fear in the back of their minds that someday an officer of the Immigration Service will appear on their doorstep or at the place where they work and they will promptly be sent back to their home countries.
With the danger of deportation always present, they are resigned to living in a shadowy, hidden world. Often they are employed in the lowest-paying jobs, live under the poorest of conditions, and are afraid to make any complaint lest it call attention to their illicit presence. Unscrupulous employers freely take advantage of them, knowing the fear that haunts the illegal alien.
But there is hope at last. A new law has been passed, a new provision made: any illegal alien who has been in this country since January 1, 1982, can apply to become a legal, permanent resident. Or, if the alien only worked in American agriculture for a minimum of 90 days between May 1, 1985 to May 1, 1986, he may be granted temporary resident status, which also can become permanent after two years.
In either case, after five years as permanent residents, they will be eligible for full citizenship with all its rights and privileges. It is a great offer, "the chance of a lifetime," as one lawyer said, but they must come forward and register as illegal aliens.
Many who are eligible will hesitate a long time over it. As one lawyer said, "They've been living for years and years with the fear that they're going to grab you and take you out of the country. A lot of people are just going to stay in the shadows."
It is a bona fide offer; the U.S. is committed to offering amnesty to all the aliens who qualify, but some do not intend to take advantage of it. Some will remain in the illicit underground life they are accustomed to. What will be the penalty if the offer is refused, or ignored, and they are found out? Just what it has always been: deportation. It will not matter how many have come forward and received legal residency. The individual who has not done so for himself is just as much at the mercy of the Immigration Service as ever. Perhaps "mercy" is not the word! Mercy was extended to those who applied for it; justice and the law are all the officers can offer to those who neglect to register. They have no choice but to follow the rules.
God is also offering an amnesty to people all people. Aliens or citizens, rich people or poor, all are offered the same free pardon. God is offering love, and life, and light. Is it possible that some will prefer to remain "in the shadows," in darkness and fear, until at last they are apprehended by death and "deported" from the land of the living into "the blackness of darkness" forever?
For them it will not matter how many will have received the pardon God offered, how many have come to the Lord and said, "I know I'm a sinner, but Christ died for sinners!" Salvation was offered. They refused, or hesitated, or neglected, or said "someday..." and now it is too late. God's offer must be accepted now; no "second chance" is ever promised.
This is not just "the chance of a lifetime"; this is the greatest opportunity of all eternity, the greatest offer ever made, and it is for "whosoever will."