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Do you qualify for early release?

Many years ago it was the practice of the French to send convicted prisoners to the galleys for long terms and sometimes for life. [Galleys were long, single-decked ships, propelled mainly by oars.] The hopeless men were chained to the boat, with only enough freedom to allow them to row the galley.

A distinguished visitor to France was taken to Toulon where the galleys were kept. To celebrate the occasion he was invited to release a prisoner—whichever one he chose.

He went down among the men and spoke with them, asking the reasons for their being there. Almost without exception he found that the prisoners attributed their plight to some injustice: false accusation, mistaken identity, and so on.

Finally, he came to one who said: “I have been a very wicked and desperate criminal. I deserve to die. It is only by God’s mercy that I am alive at all.”

“You wicked excuse for a man!” exclaimed the stranger sarcastically. “Your presence here will contaminate all these good men. You shall not stay here a day longer!” Then, turning with a smile to his escort, he said, “That is the man I wish to be released.”

The man who was chosen to be released admitted he was a sinner. Jesus once told a parable about a similar situation in which a tax collector humbly stated, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” Jesus goes on to say that “this man went down to his house justified” (Luke 18:13,14). It is only when we admit we are sinners and our condition before God is hopeless that He can save us from punishment.

Jesus said on another occasion, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Luke 5:32). God’s Word also tells us that we need “repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” in order to go to heaven (see Acts 20:21). How important it is for us to repent of our sins and accept the free gift of salvation that is offered to us through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ!

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

“The wages of sin is death ... after this the judgment” (Romans 6:23; Hebrews 9:27).

“Christ died for our sins ... was buried ... rose again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3,4).

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8,9).—P.T.S.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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