Pardon?

Written by cycleguy on April 18th, 2018

My grandfather used to say, when someone would say something to him that he did not hear (he worked in a steel mill as a welder all his life), “Pardon?” I was taught to say, “Excuse me?” or “I’m sorry I didn’t hear you.” That’s a whole lot different than the “Huh?’ or “Wha-a-a-t?” we often hear today. Okay, off rabbit trail and back to original thought. Pardon. We hear about pardons being granted to criminals, or even every day “Joe’s” by people. It’s not always easy to offer that.

In this post I mentioned reading a book called Not God Enough by J.D. Greear. What an excellent book!  He tells the story of a man named George Wilson who pled guilty to several counts of robbery and “endangering the life of a mail driver” and apparently it was serious enough to merit the death penalty. Wilson was sentenced to be hanged. President Andrew Jackson chose to issue Wilson a full pardon, but Wilson, for reasons we will probably never know, refused to accept it. In United States v. Wilson, 1833, the Supreme Court issued its verdict saying (in essence), “If the pardon is rejected, we have discovered no power in a court to force it on him.”

Seems strange to me that a man would reject a pardon which exonerated him, but also set him free. Seems strange to me why people would reject the pardon offered by God which would exonerate a person of their sin, and at the same time set them free. In my mind, the choice is a no-brainer.

Strange indeed.

 

8 Comments so far ↓

  1. Jeff says:

    Why people reject all of the Gods and the myths created throughout history is very easy for me to understand. I am sure you reject most of them as well. You are just one short of agreeing with my reality.

    • cycleguy says:

      you are right Jeff. i do reject the false gods of this world. I will NOT reject the one True God. However, you have not rejected all the false gods. You have set yourself up as your own god. And that is sad, a very small picture. The other gods did not send their only Son to die for others. Reality? I seriously doubt it.

      • Jeff says:

        You couldn’t be more wrong about how I set myself up. I certainly don’t see myself as a God. I feel sorry for you as well. To need a false hope must be a challenge.

      • Jeff says:

        I have weighed in on your blog for some time. Probably longer than anyone. But I think it is time to go. You have said you aren’t very cerebral. I think we already knew. But what you haven’t said is that you are very delusional. I don’t know how someone feels good about lying to children and spreading their delusions to others. I couldn’t do that. I hope not many children and youth are influenced by your delusions. I take satisfaction in knowing less and less people are taken in by the snake oil salesmen of today.

        • cycleguy says:

          First, Jeff, you have set yourself up as your own god. And frankly, it is a mighty small package. it would be the same for me if I set myself up as my own god in my own little kingdom. I prefer to worship the God whom Paul says, “In him we live and move and have our being.”

          Second, maybe it is time to go. Your caustic comments to me and sometimes blasphemous statements about God are not what I want to promote here. I have approved your comments so people might respond and others might see your nonsensical comments for what they are. No, my friend, you are the one who is delusional. You will find that out some day when you breathe your last breath and find yourself before the Judge of all. Then you will not have a leg to stand on nor will you ever be able to say, “No one ever told me.” I will continue to teach people-adults and children-about God and His crazy love for them. With no regrets whatsoever.

          As for the cerebral comment: thanks. I may not be the sharpest thinker on the block but I consider it a compliment that you would say I am not cerebral. That means I am able to communicate with people who don’t consider themselves “elite thinkers” (which you obviously think you are). There is a saying which just may apply to you: “Much learning doth make thee mad.” Psalm 50:1 says, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.'” I’m not sure if you consider yourself cerebral or not, but I do know in this area of faith you are not at all.

          I wish you the best. I will continue to pray for your salvation.

  2. Crystal says:

    Ok 😊 had to post this to Facebook…expresses my heart’s longing for those I love and plead often with God for…that they could somehow get a glimpse of the great love of the “Good, Good Father” and experience pardon! Thank you so much for writing this!

    • cycleguy says:

      keep praying for that to happen Crystal. Someday God will draw them and they will see the good, good Father. meanwhile, thanks for posting this. I’m honored.

  3. Yes, how strange a story that is about not accepting a pardon from a president? And how sad it is that pardon for our sins is offered freely to us when we turn to God for forgiveness.
    Blessings, Bill!