YOU ARE PARDONED

I read on Vanguard website yesterday that President Goodluck Jonathan has granted State Pardon to certain Nigerians who were prosecuted, convicted and sentenced. I began to think. I am not concern about the moral justification of this State pardon for now. What really caught my attention is the constitutional powers vested on the President to grant state pardon. As I read the Constitution of Section 175, sub-section 1, 2 and 3, I shed some tears (I am sorry, but some things can make me shed small small tears). I read out loud the powers the President commands in terms of granting a state pardon to a convicted offender. I am aware that Late President Yaradua granted Niger Delta militants an amnesty and all over the world, presidents and governors are constitutionally empowered to grant certain pardons to offenders.

I don't actually know why this got me thinking. Maybe there is something I need to learn at this point. The President has the power to stay execution of any condemned criminal. He has the power to substitute a severe form of punishment with a less severe form punishment. He has power to actually revoke judgement on any person by any court. I read some reactions of several persons and groups about this action of the president. Some actually condemned it, while some welcomed it.

When I remember how the Lord Jesus Christ declared me righteous, I am always overtaken by emotions. He discharged and acquitted me. He pardoned me without keeping records of my past. He wiped my slate clean. He gave me a blank canvas to build upon. He gave me the opportunity to bounce back. He restored me to a state of righteousness as if I never committed any offense before. This is the beauty of new creation. This is the beauty of grace.

As humans, we may not actually understand fully the full import of the grace of God. We may try to quarrel with God why He should pardon a certain wretched sinner. We may be tempted to raise several questions to God. We may try to see Him as a partial God. But is God partial? Not at all.

I should not have been forgiven. I should not have received His mercies and grace. I should have been left to pay for my salvation through a severe suffering. But grace actually said otherwise. He graciously said to me, "You are pardoned" This is the sweetness and preciousness of the grace of God.

What does this mean? Should I continue living a carefree and careless life because His grace is always available? Should I keep messing up my life because He will grant me pardon? Should I trifle with the grace of God? God forbid!

Friends, I want you to understand that if you have trusted God for mercy, He has actually granted you mercy. If you have run to Him for grace, I want you to know that He has embraced you with His arms of grace. He has powers more than President Goodluck Jonathan. He forgives you and gives you peace of mind. Goodluck Jonathan may have granted state pardon to Mr. Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, BUT HE CANNOT GRANT him PEACE OF MIND.

If you have received His pardon and peace, don't let the devil steal it. Don't try to live in the past again.
Till I come your way again, I beg you today to face your future in the grace of God. Make up your mind never to toy with this grace.


Be Encouraged!