"A Message From Death Row"

EPRIEVES are few and appeals usually only delay the unavoidable, and inevitable, final execution that awaits all those who reside on death row, anticipating the inescapable end that hangs over each of their heads.

    One by one, most will take that last short walk to oblivion, and new arrivals will take their place and learn to share the same bleak prospects, the same dreaded anticipation, the same certain, sickening fear.

    When one among ten thousand is pardoned, and walks away a free man or woman, they would indeed be foolish if they ever forgot the horrible lesson of reality driven home by the dreaded experience.

    They would be calloused and hardened of heart beyond recovery if they failed to rejoice over their renewed lease on life, or refused to make the very best use of every last minute of their remaining life!

    Eventually, however, we will all come face to face with the inevitable, final curtain-call of life; we will never escape the final death sentence that lies in store for all of humanity, when each of us comes to the end of our appointed time on this earth, and our last walk and breath, as age takes its relentless toll on each of us.

    For, you see, we are all condemned criminals, and we are all sitting on death row right now -- with or without the prison cells and bars -- awaiting the final, unavoidable end that hangs over all of our heads, ready to fall at a moment's notice; often when we least expect it.

    Each and every new generation of bright new faces has failed to recognize the ever-changing world, as older generations die and are soon forgotten, interpreting the past only in the light of their modem interpretations and customs, and rarely as it really was.

    We attempt to insulate ourselves from this fearful reality, and to deny it until the bitter end.

    Even then, those of us who have experienced the passing of someone close and dear to us often refuse or fail to learn the lesson of our own mortality and of the sentence of death which awaits us all; much less understand the real cause, and the possibility of a pardon that exists only for those who admit our full guilt and who seek forgiveness for all of our past and present crimes, and resolve to overcome the tendency to commit future criminal acts.

    "What crimes?" you might ask, little suspecting your own actual guilt.

    What laws have we all broken to cause such a terrible penalty as death to overtake us?

    It is simply the law of life that is codified in all TEN of the Commandments, as revealed in inspired original scripture (as first set forth, and not as interpreted or translated by all modem religions; cf. Romans 7:12, 14, 8:2, 6; James 1:25, 2:8, 10-26; I John 2:3-6).

    Some pretend to obey every commandment but fail to correctly obey one or more, by interpreting away the original inspired intention of certain commandments, that they would much rather violate than keep.

    One way or another, even if just by the purpose and intention of our wicked and deceitful human hearts -- if not by actual deeds -- we have all violated this living and active law, and have thereby brought upon ourselves the penalty of death!

    Therefore, we are all condemned criminals, and what remains of our physical lives is the sentence of death, which ends with the execution of the penalty we have each and every one of us personally and individually incurred.

    Yet, at the very same time, we have all received a limited pardon, since the death penalty has not been instantly executed upon us, nor must we all suffer imprisonment or solitude in our last remaining days on this earth.

    This reprieve, however, is only temporary, and cannot save us from total annihilation in the end, unless we redeem the remaining time we have left of our lives, and put it to the right uses (Ephesians 5:16; Colossians 4:5)!

    You can only do this by putting out of your life any cause of offense (sin, or breaking the Commandments, I John 3:4) by cutting off all contact with it and throwing it far away from you (cf. Matthew 5:29-30, 18:8-9; Mark 9:43-48).

    In context, this means you must avoid contact with anyone who causes others to sin, or who leads or tempts others into sinning (Matthew 18:6-7; Mark 9:42); and today this mainly means most religions, movies, television and other forms of so-called "entertainment," the main focus of which is to entice, tempt and seduce you by appealing to your vanity, lusts, carnal desires and perverse humors.

    Such misery, death, and final destruction truly does desire your company, and today more than ever before in history there is a bumper crop waiting to be harvested by the sudden stroke of death's sharp sickle (cf. Matthew 13:25-30, 40-42; Revelation 14:17-19).

    Your only real hope for survival, beyond death, lies in a future resurrection from the dead; a recreation of your material body and a return of conscious awareness and memory (Revelation 20:5-6, 12-13).

    Those whose accumulated life's memories are corrupt and filled with carnal desires and worldly ambitions will inherit the engulfing fire by which all physical matter will finally be cleansed and purged of all unproductive, destructive, and evil influences.

    Those who forego the temporary and fleeting pleasures of this present lifetime, in anticipation of the rewards of the resurrection -- which, for the survivors, will become a never-ending lifetime, and the end of all want, poverty and unhappiness (cf. Revelation 21:1-4) -- will finally reap all of the blessings that abundant life, prosperity and joy have to offer, with none of the pitfalls, pain, suffering or death that are our daily lot in this present physical life.

    Are you willing and able to make the required sacrifices here and now, in order to qualify to receive the rewards this can gain for you later, in the resurrection?

    Or do you disbelieve in anything but this present evil world and lifetime, filled with curses -- a down payment on the ultimate curse of death -- which are the lot of all who refuse to admit our guilt, or fail to attempt to atone here and now for our capital spiritual crimes?

    However you choose to spend your last days or hours on this earth is up to you, but the penalty -- or reward -- you will receive for your efforts is assured by the one person who has ever suffered the death penalty unjustly, but now lives and lights the path ahead of all of us who will follow in His footsteps, by redeeming what is left of our lives.

    We do this through obedience and active, living belief (faith), as evidenced by the works of righteousness we must perform despite all costs and any penalties we may face in this lifetime, from wicked and perverse people and spiritual powers, for daring to do so.

    We must all face the gauntlet of death sooner or later. How much better it would be for all of us, if more of us would choose to march heroically into the battle of life and death by bravely defying the wicked, whose power is but fleeting and cannot hurt anyone beyond the grave (Matthew 10:28; Isaiah 8:12-13)?

    You and I are right now sitting on death row, but your end can truly be more glorious than your beginning, if you will just follow the faint light of truth that flickers ahead of you in the scriptures, and the small and seemingly puny voice in the mouths and through the pens of righteous men, dead or living.

    Otherwise, you have only a certain and fearful expectation of what lies ahead, when you will surely receive your just reward and full deserts, for all that you have said and done in this present evil lifetime (Hebrews 10:26-27).

    The warden is capable of granting you a reprieve and full pardon, even though you must still suffer the consequence of death this once, in payment for your many past crimes (Hebrews 9:27).

    Yet, if you will accept the conditions of your parole (which are obedience and loyalty to the Commandments, and to the Law-Giver who ordained them; I John 1:6-7, 2:3-6, 15-17), you can -- if you finally die having overcome every evil temptation -- thus finally avoid the second and more horrible, terrifying and permanent death of Judgment by Fire (Revelation 20:11-15).

    The choice is in your hands!   You can either answer or ignore the call.

    Either way, the clock is ticking down the last moments of your present life, whatever you finally decide to do or believe.   Which will you choose, fellow inmate; life with mercy, or judgment and permanent death?

    The phone is ringing now, as the end of your final walk swiftly approaches.   Our heavenly Governor is on the line, calling with your reprieve.

    Let's pray that you will have the courage, understanding and wisdom to hear and answer His call in time!