Presumed Innocent?
Romans 1:18-20
“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities -- His eternal power and divine nature -- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”
In Isaiah chapter six, Isaiah heard the Lord’s call for someone to go for Him. It made me think of my own life and the way the Lord called me from a career in the criminal justice field to share the gospel as a minister of the gospel.
I have worked as a police officer, a juvenile probation officer, a criminal justice planner and college professor of criminal justice courses. I still like to watch those reality television programs that show real cases.
It is interesting that even though a person is charged with a crime as a result of eye witnesses, video surveillance and DNA evidence, there is a statement like this that appears on the scene: “_______, is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”
Years ago (the 1950’s) I was a police officer. There was a Municipal Court Judge who had lost an arm when he was in his teens. It was the result of a collision with a man under the influence of alcohol. As a result he had very little sympathy for drunk drivers that appeared before him.
This judge would often come into our police department and ride around in a patrol car with one of our officers. From time to time the officer would follow a car that was weaving back and forth across the road. After the officer stopped the car and administered a field sobriety test, the Judge observed that the man could barely stand up to follow the instructions that were given to him.
When that person appeared in Police Court to answer the charges against him, he would often plead his innocence and say that he had been wrongfully arrested. The Judge would look down sternly and ask this question: “What would you say if I told you that I was riding in that police car and observed the whole thing?” The offender almost always changed his plea to guilty.
We have a mighty Judge of the entire universe who knows not only what we do wrong, but every thought. Consider Psalm 139:2-4; “You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue You know it completely, O LORD.”
There is no presumption of innocence with the Lord. He knows everything about us. If there is no way we can deceive the Lord, what is the solution? Throw ourselves on the mercy of the Court!
God has made provision for us. He has paid the price with His own blood! In 1st John 1:9 He shows us the way to release; “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Pastor Cecil A Thompson
Romans 1:18-20
“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities -- His eternal power and divine nature -- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”
In Isaiah chapter six, Isaiah heard the Lord’s call for someone to go for Him. It made me think of my own life and the way the Lord called me from a career in the criminal justice field to share the gospel as a minister of the gospel.
I have worked as a police officer, a juvenile probation officer, a criminal justice planner and college professor of criminal justice courses. I still like to watch those reality television programs that show real cases.
It is interesting that even though a person is charged with a crime as a result of eye witnesses, video surveillance and DNA evidence, there is a statement like this that appears on the scene: “_______, is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”
Years ago (the 1950’s) I was a police officer. There was a Municipal Court Judge who had lost an arm when he was in his teens. It was the result of a collision with a man under the influence of alcohol. As a result he had very little sympathy for drunk drivers that appeared before him.
This judge would often come into our police department and ride around in a patrol car with one of our officers. From time to time the officer would follow a car that was weaving back and forth across the road. After the officer stopped the car and administered a field sobriety test, the Judge observed that the man could barely stand up to follow the instructions that were given to him.
When that person appeared in Police Court to answer the charges against him, he would often plead his innocence and say that he had been wrongfully arrested. The Judge would look down sternly and ask this question: “What would you say if I told you that I was riding in that police car and observed the whole thing?” The offender almost always changed his plea to guilty.
We have a mighty Judge of the entire universe who knows not only what we do wrong, but every thought. Consider Psalm 139:2-4; “You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue You know it completely, O LORD.”
There is no presumption of innocence with the Lord. He knows everything about us. If there is no way we can deceive the Lord, what is the solution? Throw ourselves on the mercy of the Court!
God has made provision for us. He has paid the price with His own blood! In 1st John 1:9 He shows us the way to release; “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Pastor Cecil A Thompson
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