9/6/2011

Since November 6, 2007, Amanda Knox has been in prison in Perugia, Italy, charged and convicted, along with two other men, in the murder of British exchange student, Meredith Kercher, during a sex game gone wrong. Her sentence…. 26 years in prison. However, earlier this summer, the DNA evidence used to tie Ms. Knox to the scene of the crime has been called into question. If the DNA evidence proves to be unreliable, she will likely be exonerated, acquitted, freed and able to return to the United States and her family. I am sure that if/when she hears the gavel fall and she receives the pronouncement ‘not-guilty,’ she will be indescribably ecstatic.

This story in the media this very week reminds me of I Peter 1:23, “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring Word of God.” The word for seed/Spirit in the New Testament is ‘sperma.’ It is indicative of the fact that when we are born again into God’s family, we receive the spiritual seed of God’s Spirit, appropriated to us by our obedient faith. And, when we have this imperishable seed, we have God’s DNA. And when we have God’s DNA alive in us, we are His children. And when we are His children, we are not-guilty of sin because of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. We are absolved of the guilt, shame and penalty of our sin. Our sentence would have been much more serious than 26 years. “The soul that sins will die.” [Ezekiel 18:4] And the death it is talking about here is much worse than life in prison without parole, much worse even than capital punishment. It is banishment from the presence of God forever. It is the ultimate irreversible sentence of the second death…. hell. But, thanks be to God that the DNA evidence, the seed of God’s Spirit in us through the Word of God means we are not guilty before Him. But, it is not because the DNA evidence is unreliable…. It is because the DNA evidence is reliable that we are forgiven and free!

Pray with me…. Father in heaven, everywhere we look we can discover and translate our experience into the life-changing truths that are documented in your word. Help us to see what is going on around us with redeemed eyes, spiritual eyes. Help us to hear what is going on around us with redeemed ears, spiritual ears. Show us each day, speak to us each day. We want you to reveal to us daily the wonder of our salvation. In the name of Jesus, amen.

Blessings,
Pastor Ken