{"id":112,"date":"2018-08-23T08:44:03","date_gmt":"2018-08-23T13:44:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bibletruthpublishers.com\/gospel\/?p=112"},"modified":"2018-08-23T08:44:03","modified_gmt":"2018-08-23T13:44:03","slug":"i-just-couldnt-help-myself","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bibletruthpublishers.com\/gospel\/index.php\/2018\/08\/23\/i-just-couldnt-help-myself\/","title":{"rendered":"I Just Couldn’t Help Myself"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"“I<\/span> just couldn\u2019t help myself; that bud smelled sooooo good,\u201d said David Allen Thompson as he was booked in the small Pennsylvania town of Charleroi. The list of charges looks pretty nasty\u2009\u2026
\n\u2013\u2009theft by unlawful taking,
\n\u2013\u2009receiving stolen property,
\n\u2013\u2009tampering with\/fabricating physical evidence,
\n\u2013\u2009possession of a small amount of marijuana.
\nSo where did 27-year-old David get his marijuana stash? From the desk of Officer David Kimball at the Charleroi Regional Police station. David Thompson had dropped by of his own free will to do the good deed of telling the police where they could find some real criminals. In the process, he noticed an evidence bag of \u201cweed\u201d sitting on the officer\u2019s desk for a case that he was writing up. While the officer was distracted, he slipped it into his pocket.
\nWhen Officer Kimball couldn\u2019t find the bag, he headed outside the police station hunting for David. Within five minutes, Kimball spotted him walking by. Upon being asked, \u201cWhat did you do with the weed?\u201d David dropped the baggie back into Officer Kimball\u2019s hands.
\nInside the station while he was being booked, David said, \u201cMan, I\u2019m guilty. Can\u2019t you just give me a fine or something?\u201d
\n

A Different Questionnaire <\/div><\/div>Before you stop shaking your head and wondering about David\u2019s IQ, answer this little questionnaire for yourself:
\n\u2013\u2009Are there any big criminals out there that you\u2019d be happy for God to take care of?
\n\u2013\u2009Do some sins sound soooo good that a little bit once in a while is irresistible for a mere human?
\n\u2013\u2009Do you tell God the size His \u201cfine\u201d should be?
\nRemember, \u201ca just weight and balance are the Lord\u2019s\u201d<\/strong> (Proverbs 16:11). He\u2019ll do a perfect job of examining our \u201crap sheets.\u201d Will it be wiped clean by the blood of Christ, or will it require you to answer for yourself for what you yourself have to say \u201cMan, I\u2019m guilty\u201d about?
\nDid You Know About These \u201cCrimes\u201d?
\n\u2013\u2009\u201cThe thought of foolishness is sin\u201d<\/strong> (Proverbs 24:9).
\n\u2013\u2009\u201cWhosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart\u201d<\/strong> (Matthew 5:28).
\n\u2013\u2009\u201cWhosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment\u201d<\/strong> (Matthew 5:22).
\n
The Really Good News <\/div><\/div>While God takes sin very seriously, He\u2019s also made a perfect provision for any who wish to have their \u201csin charges\u201d cleared from His official record. Here\u2019s one way that He expresses it: \u201cThe wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord\u201d<\/strong> (Romans 6:23). Societies adjust the penalties for crimes with plea bargains, reduced sentences, adjusting the legal penalties, and clemency programs. All of this helps deal with overburdened criminal justice systems that can\u2019t handle court backlogs and prison costs. Certain actions, such as some marijuana sales, are even decriminalized. God never needs to adjust His standard to accommodate unforeseen problems or because He isn\u2019t able to deal with the flood of sin. Instead, He carried out the maximum penalty against sin on the cross of Calvary when Jesus Christ suffered to put away sin. Now God offers free pardon\u2009\u2014\u2009and so much more\u2009\u2014\u2009to any who receive His free gift. But the offer is only on His terms. It is never a negotiated settlement. He says, \u201cRepent\u2009\u2026\u2009and believe the gospel\u201d<\/strong> (Mark 1:15), not \u201cdo your best and I\u2019ll let you off the hook.\u201d Will you say, \u201cI\u2019m guilty as charged and I just can\u2019t help myself. Thank You for your free gift of undeserved eternal life\u201d? Or, \u201cI just couldn\u2019t help myself last time, but now I want to try and be better next time\u201d? Only one of those two is acceptable to God.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

just couldn\u2019t help myself; that bud smelled sooooo good,\u201d said David Allen Thompson as he was booked in the small Pennsylvania town of Charleroi. The list of charges looks pretty nasty\u2009\u2026 \u2013\u2009theft by unlawful taking, \u2013\u2009receiving stolen property, \u2013\u2009tampering with\/fabricating physical evidence, \u2013\u2009possession of a small amount of marijuana. So where did 27-year-old David get … <\/p>\n

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