Rap Sheet!

Imagine you were raised in a strained under privilege home. Your mother is now elderly and your father has passed. However when your father was alive he was somewhat of a well-known gangster and vigilante. You feel the need to uphold his legacy especially since you were named after him.

As a teen you didn’t make the best choices and now as an adult you feel oppressed by the society in which you live and you are determined to do something about it.

The company of men with whom you travel have great respect for your craftiness. You are known to “get things done”. The fellows look up to you and your ability to thieve and create anarchy when and where needed.

To you, it feels like the government, and everyone around you is against you so you are determined to make a change. And if you can’t cause change you will at least cause uproar and get the attention of your oppressors. You are not one to idly stand by and be mistreated by anyone even if they are people of power.  

Then, one day, you find yourself in court. Accused of many crimes as well as government conspiracy, and you know you are guilty. While you are being processed and sentenced another man stands trail that day as well.

Just before you are sentenced to death, you are told that you are free to go, that someone else will be executed in your place. Astounded you leave the prison and wonder how in the world you, an admitted guilty man, have been released.

The “you” in this story is Barabbas. The Bible doesn’t really tell a whole lot about him but what we all know is that he was a known criminal, guilty as charged, yet he was set free and replaced by an innocent man, Jesus. Barabbas deserved to die for his crimes according to the laws of his time. Could that have really been you, or any of us? What is it that we deserve? For the lies we have told, for the things we have stolen?

You say “I’m not a liar or a thief”, ok have you ever been late for work but adjusted your time because no one saw you? Have you ever taken a few supplies from the closet at work that you didn’t pay or ask for? Have you ever told someone you didn’t do something that you know you did do, just trying to spare their feelings? Have you ever robbed your family of your time and attention? Have you ever murdered anyone with your words or a mean glare?

Even before you were born, before your parents knew each other…for that matter before they were born, an innocent Man died for your sake.

Much like Barabbas you have been given a second chance. The Bible doesn’t go into detail about what Barabbas did after he was set free. We don’t know if he was able to thank Jesus for his great sacrifice, in word or in deed. We don’t know if he ran out, rejoiced and let people know how much he was appreciative for his life! He could have become a great preacher or he could have returned to his life of crime. You see that’s the thing about God, He allows us to choose.   So, what will you do, to repay Jesus for giving you a second chance? Because if you have sinned in anyway even once, which we all have, (Ps. 51:5) He has given you a second chance just by allowing you to wake up and read this article.

He already took your place, He died so that we may live, and it’s not just a cliché.

He shed innocent blood for us all to have eternal life, you don’t and never will have enough money to repay Him for that. He wants your life, your devotion. But guess what when you give Him your life to repay Him, He continues to give you more! Peace, love and joy are just a few of the benefits of living for Christ. Wow, an innocent man died for me and all I owe him is my life, yet after I pay Him that, he continues to give to me!  And get this, He doesn’t just give to me, He pours down his blessings even on those who don’t deserve them. (Matt 5:45) Yet, how much more will He give to those who live upright before Him? 

What man do you know that would do all this? (John 15:13)

HE gives us all this and only asks us for one thing…to serve Him.

SO what’s on your rap sheet?

It doesn’t matter how bad it seems, Jesus already took the rap for you! 

Think about it.