A prisoner waiting on death row had a deep sense of guilt. He had killed a man in the presence of the victim's two children during a robbery attempt.

The convict was bothered so much that he refused to allow his lawyer to appeal for a stay of execution. For him, departing this life was an escape from his nagging conscience and the reproach of an angry society. He said, "It's my way out of this living hell."

How mistaken he was! Unless he had made his peace with God, death would open the door to something far worse--an eternal hell! The Bible says, "It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment" (Heb. 9:27).

We may not be murderers, but we all have sinned (Rom. 3:23). As far as God is concerned, that calls for the death penalty (Rom. 6:23), but He has provided a way of escape. He gave His Son to die in our place, and all who believe on Him are delivered from condemnation.

Unlike the convict who was hoping to find release through his execution, we can find true freedom. The Bible assures us, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1). He's the only way out of our sinful dilemma.  — Richard De Haan