There was a young man one time who lived in the west. He had never done anything very wrong. But one day he was playing a game of cards and lost his temper. Picking up a revolver he shot his opponent and killed him. He was arrested and tried. Finally he was sentenced to hang. But because of the wonderful life he had previously lived, his relatives and friends got up a petition for him. It seemed as though everyone wanted to sign it. Before long other towns and villages heard about it, and people all over the state eagerly signed the petition.
At last it was taken to the governor. Who happened to be a Christian, and tears came to his eyes as he looked at the large baskets filled with petitions. He decided to Pardon the young man and so,writing out the pardon, he put it in his pocket, and then made his way to the prison.
As he approached the death cell the young man thinking that he is a Christian worker, sprang to the bars.
“Get out of here”, he cried. “Idon’t want to see you, I have heard several of your kind already. I had enough religion at home”.
“But” said the governor, “wait a moment, young man, I have something for you. Let me talk to you”.
“Listen” exclaimed the young man in anger “if you don’t get out of here at once. I will call the guard and have u put out”.
“But, Young mann” exclaimed the governor, “I have a news for you, the very best. Won’t you let me tell you about it?”
“You heard what I said” responded the young man, “and if you don’t leave immediately I’ll call the warden”.
“Very well”, replied the governor and with a sad heart he turned away and left.
In a few moments the warden approached.
“Well young man”, he said. “I see you have had a visit from the governor”
“What!” cried the young man, “was that man the governor?”
“He was”, replied the warden, “and he had a pardon in his pocket for you, but you wouldn’t even listen to him”.
“Get me pen, get me paper”, cried the young man. And sitting down he wrote, ”Dear governor, I owe you an apology. I am sorry for the way I treated you …. “ and so on.
The governor received the letter, turned it over and wrote on the back, "No longer interested in this case”.
At last it was taken to the governor. Who happened to be a Christian, and tears came to his eyes as he looked at the large baskets filled with petitions. He decided to Pardon the young man and so,writing out the pardon, he put it in his pocket, and then made his way to the prison.
As he approached the death cell the young man thinking that he is a Christian worker, sprang to the bars.
“Get out of here”, he cried. “Idon’t want to see you, I have heard several of your kind already. I had enough religion at home”.
“But” said the governor, “wait a moment, young man, I have something for you. Let me talk to you”.
“Listen” exclaimed the young man in anger “if you don’t get out of here at once. I will call the guard and have u put out”.
“But, Young mann” exclaimed the governor, “I have a news for you, the very best. Won’t you let me tell you about it?”
“You heard what I said” responded the young man, “and if you don’t leave immediately I’ll call the warden”.
“Very well”, replied the governor and with a sad heart he turned away and left.
In a few moments the warden approached.
“Well young man”, he said. “I see you have had a visit from the governor”
“What!” cried the young man, “was that man the governor?”
“He was”, replied the warden, “and he had a pardon in his pocket for you, but you wouldn’t even listen to him”.
“Get me pen, get me paper”, cried the young man. And sitting down he wrote, ”Dear governor, I owe you an apology. I am sorry for the way I treated you …. “ and so on.
The governor received the letter, turned it over and wrote on the back, "No longer interested in this case”.
The day came for the young man to die.
“Is there anything you want to say before you die?” he was asked.
“Yes” said the young man. “Tell my friends and relatives of my village and the neighbouring villages that I am not dying for my crime but because I did not accept the prepared pardon. I am not dying because Iam a murderer. The governor has pardoned me. I could have lived. I am dying because I did not accept the governor’s pardon”.
My friend, on the day of judgment before God almighty, if any man is punished to Hell, it is not for the sin that he/she has committed as the sin of the whole world is condoned in sacrifice of Jesus Christ on Cross. Jesus’ sacrifice on cross is the propitiation for the sin of the whole world. If any man is punished in hell fire it is only because of not accepting Jesus’ Pardon on cross or forgiveness of sin through the blood sacrifice of Jesus on Cross.
