John 3:17
“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
I have enjoyed the rare privilege of working in a wide range of positions in the criminal justice field. I have walked the streets as a “street cop,” and I have driven a patrol car. I served as a County Juvenile Probation Officer and was a Probation and Parole Specialist with the Idaho State Law Enforcement Planning Commission.
As you can see, my life experience goes beyond the pulpit. In contemplating John 3:17, I see that Satan delights in clouding our minds to think of God as an evil Master who delights in making people miserable. God does not condemn the world (that was a free choice that Satan enticed Adam and Eve to make).
I like to think of God as the Almighty Parole Officer. He freely offers guilty men and women freedom from the penalty of sin. The choice to accept His gift is left up to each of us who are the condemned offenders.
The arms of the Lord are open wide to receive any and all who come to Him by grace through faith. There is nothing we can ever do to earn or deserve His gift of eternal life. We either accept or decline. Oh, I hope each of you will accept!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil