I Am A Criminal

I am a criminal. In God's sight. I have gone against what laws he has set before me to keep me safe and in line to his good and perfect will for my life. I deserve death because I have failed him. He gave me life, and I abused it. He gave me privileges and I misused them. I am in biblical terms, a sinner. What is a sinner? A criminal. I am a criminal, in the sight of God.

Today I rejoice in the fact that I have found something more than a bail from punishment for my wrongdoings against the law of God, but I have found joy and peace from the love shown to me. I don't deserve it. I'm a criminal. I have murdered people in my heart, lied, stolen, and even been egocentric to some extent. I don't deserve any bail options for what I have done. I don't deserve anyone's grace. However, there was one who was going to extend it anyways.

Jesus Christ came to teach about and conquer the grave that is coming to all of us at some point in our lives. All of us are going to die. Someday. This earth is not our home. When we look towards the future, nothing is guranteed, accept the sentence of death. We cannot live forever. These bodies of ours are weak and are slowly decaying. That is evidence that anyone or anything's existence is in vain, unless there is a reason for all of it, which brings me back to my first statement. I am a criminal, in the sight of God. I deserve death for abusing life.

Yet over 2000 years ago, he walked among men and took the punishment for my wrongdoings against him on his shoulders and died. He didn't have to. He didn't want to. Who looks forward to dying? But who looks forward to helping out their fellowman? Who could even claim to look forward to loving their fellowman unto death? I know I can't. Remember, I'm a criminal. I'm selfish, vain, and full of greed. I'm a poor sight to look at, especially in God's perspective.

However, look at the cross, or the weapon, used to kill the man who was precious, pure, and innocent in the sight of God. He did not complain. He did it willing, knowing it was the only way. I deserved it. It was suppost to be me. Yet in that moment of time, God overseeing what was going to set me free from my punishment. The bail no money could pay. It was all having to be paid by a life. A life no man, but Jesus Christ, could bare.

2000 years ago, he died. It was hard for him to breathe his last breath, but he managed before giving up his body to hell. Three days later, the tomb his body was lying in did not lay still. Every earth ponding rock was yielded to the sound of thunder, as this one man Jesus came walking out. In his new life, he lived not by the sentence of death any longer; if death hadn't won the first time it surely wasn't going to this time. Only the hope of going home soon, and bringing me with him soon enough.

I am a criminal, and I know I don't deserve. The mercy and grace poured upon me by that miserable form. This man named Jesus died for me. I can be happy, but it's more than just glee. See death has no power over me anymore. I get to go home soon. Anytime, any day now. Death will come to me. But I will be happy after the split of a second death is because I will be in heaven with to be with my Savior who died and rose again. By that my life will be complete.

O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" ~ 1 Corinthians 15:55

"Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

"When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God." ~ Romans 5:1-11