Breaking News! The headlines were displayed like a great event had taken place. One of two escaped convicts had been killed in a gun battle with Police. There was a sense of relief in the voices of those reporting the latest news about the men who broke out of prison in the US. We waited all week for news about these desperate men who were on the run. After hearing the sordid tale of the middle-aged female employee, who had an affair with the prisoners and then helped them escape, we hoped they would soon be captured.
Unlike a Hollywood script, the 53-year-old married woman wasn’t beautiful, and the prisoners weren’t innocent. She suffered a panic attack and went to a hospital instead of driving the criminals out of town. She ruined her life and is now in jail herself. The prisoners she helped were serving life sentences for murder and one had even killed a policeman. They were desperate and “had nothing to lose” if they needed to kill again to keep their freedom.
I was relieved that a desperate killer has been stopped without anyone else getting hurt or killed, but I see another side to the story. The killer’s last chance to ask GOD for forgiveness had ended. Until he lost consciousness for the last time, he could have asked JESUS to come into his heart and save him. Much like a foxhole conversion, in his time of need he could have had a change of heart. That was when a sermon, a scripture or a Christian witness from his past could have been enough for him to grab on to. Unfortunately, his life of sin probably hardened his heart when he needed to be sensitive to GOD’s calling. If he wasn’t saved during those final moments, he is in a place much worse than prison and there won’t be another escape.
The other man is still on the loose and has a chance to be saved. Like the first man, his heart may be hardened by sin, and he may be desperate to stay out of prison, but he should be more desperate to stay out of Hell. He has the same chance that you have, to repent and ask JESUS to wash away your sins. His situation may open his eyes and cause him to cry out for help. You may be closer to death than he is, but you don’t see your own desperate situation. Don’t put off your decision until it is too late, “behold now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor 6:2). Don’t waste your last chance. You have a lot to lose!
Wayne Lance (2015) – That’s Good News to Share!