O. J. and Parole

I am so pleased that O. J. Simpson was granted parole this past week. I don’t know what his past crimes are, but the one for which he was in prison (sentenced to 33 years, served 9) was not one that deserved any more of his time, in my opinion.

One of the Parole Board members indicated that the Board had received over 25,000 letters regarding the parole. Many were urging he not be paroled due to the murders of his wife and her boyfriend many years ago. Mr. Simpson has been found “not guilty” of that crime and therefore has no reason to be in prison for it. That same board member said “that case would not be considered in regard to his parole.” Good. That is absolutely right.

Can you imagine what we would face as Believers if God, who adjudicates us as righteous based on the sacrifice of Christ, tagged us for every past and present sin when we come to confess that which so often occurs in our life. But he does not. Since we were “justified” by the Father when we came to faith and accepted His grace, we no longer have to face our past sin. It is gone! Removed as far as the East is from the West. We come to Him to deal with our present sin. . .never something from the past that has been confessed and forgiven. That is forgotten and buried in His llove.

To hold O. J. accountable for that which he was adjudicated “not guilty” is unfair, unlawful, and certainly unlike our God. He forgives and forgets. Praise Him. I need that, don’t you?