The two incidents in this story happened in the same week in the same state. They both involved prisoners, and they had two opposite outcomes, one for sorrow and grief and one for joy and happiness.
Violence
Thirty-three Georgia inmates were being transported by bus when two of them were somehow able to overpower and disarm the two corrections officers guarding them, whom they then shot to death. The older man, Donnie Rowe, 43, was in for life without parole, and the younger man, Ricky Dubose, 24, was well on his way to becoming a hardened criminal.
Their Tuesday morning escapade continued with them carjacking a green Honda Civic that had pulled up behind the bus on the rural highway. For the next few days, they led local, state and federal officers on a car chase which covered multiple states. They also tied up an elderly couple and made off with their Jeep, which they eventually crashed. They then fled on foot through the woods in rural Tennessee. Their spree of lawlessness and violence came to an end when they were stopped by a homeowner who held them at gunpoint after he caught them trying to steal his car. As of this writing, they now face the death penalty as they await their trial.
A Different Outcome
These two prisoners had made a series of sinful actions, leaving death and destruction in their wake. Many people were left to grieve and mourn as a result of their actions. But that very same week, six other prisoners had made a choice that would have good consequences, for them and for many others. The Bible tells us that God is watching it all happen and taking note of it all. “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:33The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. (Proverbs 15:3)). One day, every one of us is going to have to answer to God for the choices that we have made in life. “It is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:11-1211For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:11‑12)).
On Monday of the same week, six prisoners were assigned to graveyard maintenance. It was a particularly hot and humid day in Georgia. As they were busy about their chores, suddenly, without warning, the deputy sheriff assigned to guard them collapsed and lost consciousness!
This would have been the prisoners’ golden opportunity to escape. They could have taken the officer’s gun and the work van, fleeing across state lines before anybody noticed. But they chose not to do so. Instead, they worked to save the officer’s life. One of them quickly dialed 911, using the officer’s cellphone. Others took off the officer’s bulletproof vest so that he wouldn’t be so hot and also so that emergency personnel could perform CPR once they arrived. Because of their quick thinking and action, the deputy sheriff’s life was saved.
Apparently, the officer lost consciousness from complications due to brain surgery that he had had 10 years before, but he was able to make a full recovery. In appreciation for what they had done, Sheriff Moats recommended that these prisoners (who were all nonviolent) receive reduced sentences. The Corrections Officer’s Department also had a pizza party for them, complete with homemade desserts from the family of the officer whose life they had saved.
What an unusual week for the Georgia prison system! From an act of selfless kindness on Monday, to cruel and vicious murders on Tuesday, ending with a party of thanksgiving on Friday. Everyone involved was struck by the consequences of the actions that the two groups of prisoners had taken. After the Friday lunch, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office wrote on Facebook, “As we watched the horrific manhunt this week of the two inmates that killed two correctional officers and were captured last night, we all know that Monday could have ended differently for our officer. We are very proud of the actions of all six inmates involved.”
The Most Important Decision of All
God is faithful to tell us in His Word, the Bible, that there is one choice that is more important than all of the daily choices that we can make. It is the choice between spiritual life and spiritual death. It is the choice for eternal life or eternal damnation. It is the choice to have your name written in the Lamb’s book of life or not. When we accept God’s way of salvation, we are receiving God’s forgiveness of sins, spiritual life and eternal life. He writes our names in the Lamb’s book of life! “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:16-1816For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16‑18)).
Jesus paid for our sin-debt towards God by dying on the cross and shedding His blood for us. It is God’s gift to us, but we have to receive it! God’s word to us is, “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:1919I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: (Deuteronomy 30:19)).
We must all choose whether or not we will receive God’s plan of salvation — those of us that consider ourselves “good people” and those of us that society considers “bad people.” God tells us, “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)). Do you see your need of a Savior? What will your choice be? Either way, your choice will have eternal consequences! Therefore, choose life and live!