Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

"Be sure your sins will find you out."¹

Joy and I saw the movie, "Conviction." It was based on a true story about a man who was convicted of a murder he never committed, and consequently, spent sixteen years in jail. His sister was so convinced of his innocence that she studied to become a lawyer so she could defend him and plead his case—which she did. After years of struggle, the DNA of the murdered victim was brought to light and, comparing it to the DNA of her brother, proved his innocence beyond any doubt. He had been set up by a police officer who didn't like him, and who threatened witnesses that if they didn't testify against the accused, they could end up the same as the murdered victim whose graphic photos were showed to them. Being terrified, they falsely testified against the accused man.

Because of the statute of limitations the police officer who masterminded the false evidence was not brought to justice. Furthermore, because she set up the accused as the murderer, the real murderer was never looked for nor found.

We left the movie theatre feeling sick in the stomach as this was a terrible travesty of justice. I couldn't help but wonder how many other people are sent to jail and their life ruined because of the miscarriage of justice, and how many people avoided justice because somebody else was blamed for their crime.

However, while many who are guilty may escape justice in this life, they never will in the life to come, when they stand before God to give an account of their life because, as the Bible says, "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment."²

Unless a person admits and confesses his/her sinfulness to God—regardless of the severity of the sins committed—and receives Jesus as his or her Savior and God's forgiveness, the truth will be evident when standing before the Judge of the Universe where true justice will be served. Their sins will find them out.¹

The good news is, and of this we can be assured, God's offer of forgiveness is available right now to all who confess their sins and sinfulness to God, believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God, and that he died on the cross to pay the penalty for all their sins. If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and received God's forgiveness, I urge you to do that today. For help see: "How to Be Sure You're a Real Christian" at: http://tinyurl.com/real-christian.

Realize too, that it is not God's will that anyone perishes,³ so over and over God's Word reminds us that if we have never accepted God's forgiveness, we will stand before the Judge of the Universe, and justice will be served.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please give me the wisdom and courage to always confess my sins, and ask for your forgiveness on the basis that Jesus Christ, your Son, died on the cross to pay the just penalty for all my sins. For this I will be eternally grateful. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name amen."

1. Numbers 32:23 (KJV).
2. Hebrews 9:27 (KJV).
3. 2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV).

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