Guilty, Until Proven Innocent

I know what you're thinking: "No, no, Heather... It's 'Innocent, until proven guilty'! Not the other way around!"

Sure it is.... but just wait. I'm not finished yet.... :)

There's this thing called the "Death Penalty". Depending if the crime committed falls into the category of capital crimes (aka: capital offences), the offender has the possiblity of facing the Death Penalty (something I, for one, am completely for. It's Biblical.)

Did you know there's a Spiritual Death Penalty? It's true.

It all started in a garden long ago. There were laws laid down... and they were disobeyed. The shackles of sin were placed on Adam and Eve, and they were forced to leave the garden. The bail that was set required the sacrificing of a spotless lamb upon an altar, the shedding of blood. However, that payment would not forever sin atone - it only lasted until another sin was committed. More laws were laid down - in Exodus 20, God carved the 10 Commandments on two tablets of stone and gave them to the people; and for 2,000 years the world "paid bail" in that manner.

"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." (James 2:10)

But I'm so thankful... because one day and angel appeared unto a little virgin girl and declared unto her that she would concieve and bring forth a son who would be called Emmanuel. The Great I Am. The Prince of Peace. The Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world.
"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:7-11)

MY Savior.

And then that one atoning day came. It started off as any other - but it would end in a manner like that which had never seen before nor would be seen again.
A garden. An agonizing prayer: "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." Betrayal by a "friend". A joke of a trial. Mockery. Beatings. Scorn. A crown of thorns. The wounds. A long, long road. A Hill called Mt. Calvary! A Cross! The Blood! A storm. God the Father weeping as He turns His back on His Only Begotten Son. A voice peircing the sky: "My God! My God! Why hast thou forsaken me...?" and then moments later, the shout of victory: "IT IS FINISHED!"

Finished. Done. Complete. Accomplished. Forever.

A grave. 3 days. and my Savior arose from dead - conquering Hell and the grave, forever removing the sting of death!

"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Collosians 2:13-15)

I asked Jesus to come into my heart and save me - to wash my heart clean with His precious blood on May 2, 2001. It's as if Jesus walked into my Spiritual "jail" that day, opened the cell door, walked me out, and took my place. He had already paid the price. No more "bail". No more shedding the blood of spotless lambs upon an Altar. The Perfect Lamb of God had forever appeased the wrath of God the Father that day as He hung on the Cross on Mt. Calvary!

I'm so thankful for a Savior Who cared THAT MUCH for my soul. Where would I be if not for His grace?

It's a choice though. Jesus will not force His free gift of Eternal Life on you - you must reach out and accept it. If you never ask Him to come into your heart and cleanse you with His blood, you will have to pay for all your sins on your own. And since that is impossible, you face the spiritual Death Penalty: Hell. (Matthew 25:41, Revelations 20:13, 14)

Please don't die and go to Hell when you don't have to. The price has been paid. And Jesus is willing to save you - He WANTS to save you. (II Peter 3:9) He suffered an agonizing death for you on the Cross of Calvary so you wouldn't have to suffer for all eternity in a place called Hell forever serperated from Almighty God. Don't slap the everlasting arm away that is willing to save your soul. Please. Please.

You're guilty. Until proven innocent
through the complete cleansing of your
heart that only Jesus Christ give.

(I could tell Satan was really fighting this post the whole way through. My "copy/paste" button wouldn't work, the formatting and layout of this post kept going all weird... My thoughts kept getting all jumbled up, and I was having a hard time recalling Scriptures, etc... I have three words for that dirty, stinkin' liar: "Bring. It. On." (Ephesians 6:12)