Many years ago George Wilson, a postal clerk, robbed a federal payroll from a train and in the process killed a guard. The court convicted him and sentenced him to death by hanging. Because of a public outcry against capital punishment, however, a movement began to secure a presidential pardon for Wilson (seeing how this was his first offense), and eventually the President himself intervened with a pardon.
Amazingly, Wilson refused it.
Since this had never happened before, the Supreme Court was asked to rule on whether someone could indeed refuse a presidential pardon. Chief Justice John Marshall handed down the court’s decision: “A pardon is a written decree whose only value must be determined by the receiver of the pardon. It has no value apart from that which the receiver gives to it. George Wilson has refused to accept the pardon. We cannot conceive why he would do so, but he has. Therefore, George Wilson must die.”
And so, as punishment for his crime, George Wilson, on a day appointed by the court, was taken from his cell and hanged to satistfy the requirements of the law. Pardon, declared the Supreme Court, must not only be granted, it must be accepted.
We have forgiveness of sins according to the riches of God’s GRACE, but for us to enjoy this WE MUST ACCEPT IT!
Have a Great Day!
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