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*THE STORY OF A FOOLISH MAN*

George Wilson was sentenced by a U.S. Court in Philadelphia (back in 1830) to be hanged for robbing the mails, and for murder. Andrew Jackson was president of the United States, and at the request of many of George Wilson's friends (3 weeks before he was to be hanged), Andrew Jackson issued a pardon for Wilson. But Wilson surprised the world by refusing to accept the pardon and insisted that he be hanged according to the court's decision

George Wilson declared the pardon was no pardon unless he accepted it. This was a point in law never raised before, because whenever a pardon was issued previously, it was always joyfully accepted.

Should the sheriff accept the Court's decision and hang Wilson, or should he accept the Presidential Pardon and release him?  Since the law was silent on the point, President Jackson called on the Supreme Court to decide the issue at once.

*The decision read like this: "A pardon is a paper, the value of which depends upon its acceptance by the person implicated. It is hardly to be supposed that one under the sentence of death would refuse to accept a pardon, but if it is refused, it is no pardon. George Wilson must hang". And George Wilson was hanged.*

Most people would agree that Wilson was a fool for refusing to accept the pardon, and yet many of these same people daily reject the pardon which God has provided for them. If you are unsaved today - you are a sinner under the sentence of sin and condemned to die eternally in the outre darkness of Hell. But today God is offering a pardon. He is saying that you don't need to die because Jesus died for you. It is hardly to be supposed that any person in his right mind would reject the pardon of God's love which Jesus secured on Calvary - but if you do reject that offer, it is no pardon. Then you will have to bear your own punishment and pay the penalty for sin yourself.

Don't be a fool like George Wilson. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; 16:31). *Won't you do it today?*

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