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Pardon Refused
In 1830, George Wilson was sentenced to death for murder committed during a robbery. Andrew Jackson, who was at that time president of the United States of America, exercised his right and sent Wilson a full and free pardon, which he vigorously refused. The matter was then referred to the Supreme Court, and Chief Justice John Marshall gave the ruling: “A pardon depends on its acceptance by the person implicated. It is hardly to be supposed that one under sentence of death would refuse to accept it, but pardon refused is no pardon.”
George Wilson was executed!
Most, if not all, of us, can hardly imagine such a thing. Yet there are multitudes in this world everyday refusing the greatest pardon ever offered to mankind. Here it is:
“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7).
What have you done with God’s offer of pardon through the work of the Lord Jesus at Calvary? Have you refused it, or accepted it?
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