You probably hear the words “Pardon me” often, and you understand just what they mean, but have you ever heard anyone say, “Don’t pardon me”? That would be strange indeed, but I am going to tell you about a man who actually made that strange request. It happened a long time ago, in the year 1829, when a man named Wilson got himself deeply into debt. Trying to get some money quickly to pay his debts, he robbed a U.S. mail coach. He was caught, found guilty by the court, and sentenced to death.
Before I continue about this man, I would like to remind you that, because all of us have sinned, we too stand guilty before One greater than the court and are, like Wilson, condemned to suffer the consequences, for God says the wages of sin is death. We too stand in need of someone to change our hopeless situation and deliver us from certain death.
Happily for this man, a change did come from a very high source. About three weeks before the date of execution, the President of the United States issued a pardon to Wilson. To the amazement of all, he refused the pardon. Nothing like this had ever happened before, so the case went to the Supreme Court. A decision was reached that the Court could not force the pardon on him if he refused it. He could only benefit from it when he accepted it. He continued to refuse the pardon, was condemned, and by that decision lost his life.
Do you think he was a very foolish man, refusing such an offer? God, the highest source of all, sent His Son to take the punishment we deserve. He offers us a pardon that we can accept or reject, and the Lord Jesus confirms it by saying, “He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation [or judgment], but is passed from death unto life.” If the offer is refused, condemnation will follow.
How do we accept this offer? By admitting we have sinned before God and our only way out is a pardon, by believing that Jesus took the punishment that was coming to us when He died on the cross and set us free from our guilt, and by simply accepting this amazing gift with thanksgiving.
Today, as you read this, God is offering a pardon to you. Will your answer be, “Thank you!” or, “No thanks”?