Pardons are a hot topic it seems this election year. A federal grand jury charged President Joe Biden's son Hunter, with three felony tax offenses and six misdemeanor offenses, including failure to file and pay his taxes, tax evasion and filing a false return. The indictment chronicled more than $7 million in income Hunter Biden made from his foreign business dealings from 2016 through 2019, and how the president's son spent nearly $5 million during that time period on "everything but his taxes."
Those expenses, according to the indictment, included drugs, prostitutes, lavish hotels, rental homes, luxury cars and clothing. Biden then allegedly falsely characterized those expenses as business expenses.
As if that wasn't enough another federal jury convicted Hunter Biden on three federal felony gun charges he faced, concluding that he violated laws meant to prevent drug addicts from owning firearms; the jury, which deliberated for just under three hours, returned guilty verdicts on all three charges, which stemmed from a revolver Hunter Biden bought in October 2018 at a Delaware gun shop the first two counts were for lying about his drug use on a federal background check form, and the third count was for possessing a gun while addicted to, or using, illegal drugs. What I find most interesting about all this is not the crimes, lies, and preferential treatment Hunter received but the power of the pardon.
The sweeping pardon covers not only Hunter Biden's convictions in two cases in Delaware and California, but also any other "offenses against the United States which he has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 1, 2014 through December 1, 2024."
Now that's a Pardon! Anyone familiar with the law and the consequences of such crimes knows that had Hunter been anyone other than the president's son he was potentially facing millions of dollars in fines and more than 50 years in prison. He received a full and unconditional pardon. Now let me ask you a question? Hunter knew he broke the law, lied and stole and defrauded the United States in more ways than one.
What would you think of Hunter if he refused his father's pardon? Caught red handed guilty as sin, no way out, facing years of prison and endless fines not to mention the shame and humiliation he brought upon his family. Would anyone in their right mind refuse a second chance at life? Slate wiped completely clean records sealed never to be challenged or open again? A chance to have your life back again? The answer of course would be a resounding NO.
Now let me ask you another question. Why is it when the president hands out a pardon because of the love he has for his child the recipient of that pardon receives it with thanks giving and over whelming happiness? But when the father of love and light hands out a pardon in the name of his son Jesus Christ some scoff at it and say no thanks?
Could it be that mankind is free of sin and needs no such pardon?
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Perhaps mankind believes there is no need to be pardoned because man is just and good?
Ecclesiastes 7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
The word declares that everyone is a prisoner of sin.
Galatians 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
The new International reads this way.
NIV Galatians 3:22 But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
You see man doesn't realize just what's at stake and what our loving father is really offering.
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Everybody has a past and even if you have lived a good life you are still a sinner like it or not because you are a child of Adam. And Adam had no children until he sinned and was cast out of paradise.
The Father graciously pardons all sins and grants eternal life to all who believe in the savior Jesus Christ. The cost is free it's by his grace and God knows all our short comings and sins. And knowing this he still freely offers us his unconditional pardon in Christ.
Ephesians 2:1 1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Do people really understand what's at stake when they refuse the Lords mercy and grace? Why would someone willfully reject this offer? You would have to be out of your mind to say no to God's gracious gift. The great deception is that the devil lies to everyone he comes in contact with.
2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
And because he is the god of this world he has at his disposal the systems of this world to spread his lies. The news, social media, the professors who teach in the colleges around the country the list goes on and on. He does not want you to know what awaits those who refuse the pardon of the Father. Sad no one has to experience this but the devil doesn't care about anyone but himself he is the epitome of all that is evil. For those who refuse the Fathers gracious pardon make sure you know what you are saying no to.
1 Timothy 2:3-5 3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
This is Gods heart he wants all to be saved and know the truth. Saved from what?
Revelation 20:11-15 11And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Everyone needs to make their own decision because everyone will be held accountable for their choices good or bad.
In Romans 12:1 the apostle Paul tenderly urged the people by the mercies of God to present their lives as a holy living sacrifice to God. After all that God in his mercy has done in Christ Jesus this is the least they could do.
NLT Romans 12:1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice -- the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?
Today our loving compassionate Father has stretched out his hand of grace and pardon. Why would anyone refuse this free gift of everlasting life?
1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
Take the pardon, believe God accept Jesus and live forever in a paradise to come.