The Personal Side of the Death Penalty

The death penalty, I mean even for a mass killer like Tim McVeigh, is a controversial issue. For some it's an important political issue . . . for others it's an important justice or humanitarian issue. But few of us have ever thought of the death penalty as an intensely personal issue. It is. For every one of us.

We're not talking here about a death sentence from some human court, but from the Governor of the universe. It's actually spelled out in six sobering words in our word for today from the Word of God in Romans 6:23 - "The wages of sin is death." Now that sentence actually goes back to the beginning of time when God announced the penalty for mankind's first sin - "You will surely die" (Genesis 2:17).

There is no doubt that our sin carries with it a sentence of death - as surely as anyone on Death Row is carrying one. And just in case you or I might think that doesn't include us, the Bible says, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." There is no such thing as a "not guilty" plea before God. Our spiritual crimes aren't the horrific crimes of some mass killing - in fact, they're cosmic crimes. We have - however politely or religiously - raised our fist to the God of the universe, the God who gave us our life in the first place, and said, "My way, God, not Your way." And the "wages" of that sin is "death."

Not just death as in your heart stopping, but death as in eternal separation from God, the Source of everything good in your life. The death penalty for my running my own life is far more frightening that any lethal injection or electrocution - it's a forever death penalty that leaves us, in the Bible's words, "shut out from the presence of the Lord" (II Thessalonians 1:9).

The bad news from God is really bad. But the good news is about as good as it gets. Here's the rest of what God says about it - "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). You can walk away from the death penalty you deserve and receive a heaven you could never deserve - if you take His "gift". Now a gift is something someone else paid for - and Jesus paid for eternal life for you by giving His life. All the good works in the world can't pay a death penalty - someone has to die - and Someone did. Jesus did the dying for all the sinning you have ever done.

Now if you've never reached out to Jesus to take that gift, then you're living today under the death penalty for your sin. But that could change this very day. If you will, with all your heart, put your total trust in Jesus as the only possible Savior from your sins. Find out more about how a relationship with God can be Yours for Life! If you're not sure you belong to Jesus Christ, and you'd like to make sure, check out YOURS FOR LIFE!

It is not a decision to be postponed - the stakes are just too high. If He's knocking on the door of your heart, open that door. When you do, He will open a door for you - the one that will allow you to walk out of Death Row forever and into a life that will never end.

If you're interested, there is more information about:
The most important event of all time and
The most important Book of all time.

email this message to a friend   |   DW Home

Today's Daily Wisdom is written by Ron Hutchcraft, based on his popular radio broadcast,"A Word With You"."A WORD WITH YOU" daily devotionals are now available via e-mail. To subscribe send a blank email to:awordwithyou-subscribe@hutchcraft.com,or to request the "Yours for Life" booklet, fill out the form on this site:http://www.gospelcom.net/rhm/yours/yflorder.html. Ron Hutchcraft Ministries has been on-line with Gospelcom since February, 1996, providingpractical answers to real life issues. (c) 2000 Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc.PO Box 400, Harrison AR 72602