Two weeks ago my posts mysteriously disappeared once again. The reason… I had headed off to Mexico for a mission trip and didn’t have an easy way to post while I was there. (I’ll share some of the trip with you in the near future.) And then last week was “catch-up” week on all the things that had piled up on my desk. But now that I’ve almost caught up, I’ll get back to posting! Time to get back in the saddle!
It is said that in the late 1700s, a German prince traveled through France and visited one of the prisons. To show his respect to this important visitor, the commander over the prison invited the prince to select any single prisoner to be set free. In order to make the best decision, the prince spoke to one prisoner after another, asking each one why he was condemned to this prison and punishment.
What he found was that one after another told him of the injustice, oppression, and false accusations that had caused him to be placed here. In fact, from their accounts, they were all injured and ill-treated persons who were wrongly convicted.
At last he came to one who, when asked the same question, answered: “Your Highness, I have no reason to complain. I have been a very wicked, desperate man. I deserve even worse punishment than this and to be broken alive on the torture rack. I consider myself to have received a great mercy by being here.”
The prince looked hard at this man, smiled, and said: “You wicked man! It is a pity you should be placed among so many honest men. By your own confession, you are bad enough to corrupt them all; therefore you shall not stay with them another day.” Then, turning to the prison commander he said, “This is the man, sir, whom I wish to be released.”
Interestingly enough, we find ourselves in the same situation. We are desperately wicked people who deserve severe punishment. But the moment we are willing to admit our sins to Jesus, we find liberty.
The Word of God indicates that if we say that we have no sin, we make God out to be a liar, but if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.