Daily Devotional Time: Hebrews 10:26-29

The prison chaplain stood in the execution chamber looking at the condemned killer. His crime was horrible, but in the 12 years since he arrived on death row, the chaplain observed something within that inmate that made him think... the chaplain considered the wasted potential of that inmate, and the fact that given another chance, the condemned criminal could possibly do something great.

It was a heart-wrenching decision... the State demanded justice for this man's crime, yet the chaplain desired mercy. So, in an unprecedented move, the chaplain surrendered his own son to be executed in the criminal's place. It was a move that no one could understand... why would a man give his only son to die for a slimeball like this condemned killer? It was indescribable.

There the killer lay strapped to the execution table, and the chaplain approached him...

"Son, come to my house. Let me take you in, let me provide for you, and help you get back on your feet," the chaplain said.

"I dunno chaplain," the killer said. "Going home with you might cut into my newly-found freedom."

Angered by this flippant rejection of his grace, the chaplain threw the switch, and the killer is no more.

We can not understand why anyone would give their only son, or any of their children, up for someone else... but we can understand the rage this chaplain felt that his sacrifice was disregarded.

God gave His only begotten Son, who died on the cross that we might be free... that we might be saved from death and Hell if we repent and believe in Him. Sadly, many flippantly blow off the sacrifice God made for us, just as that killer blew off the chaplain's good grace. There are some strong words concerning this in Hebrews 10:26-29:

For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

God gave all that He had for us when He sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. For us to avoid placing our faith in Him because we fear the "loss of freedom," if we take the decision lightly, or if we blow it off completely, we spit in the face of the One Who truly loves us. And, if we blow off the decision to repent of our sins and trust Christ as our Savior, we deserve the wrath and judgment that is coming our way.

Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal savior? If so, cherish the free gift of salvation, and don't trample on it with a lifestyle of unrepented sin.

However, if you haven't accepted Christ as your savior, every moment you delay, you are heaping wrath and judgment on yourself. Repent of your sin and trust Jesus Christ as your savior today.