

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8
John Ford, aged 35, is -- as far as authorities can tell -- a bank robber.
It was a couple of weeks ago that Ford walked into a bank, a FirstMerit Bank branch office in Streetsboro, Ohio. He handed a note to a teller. The teller read the note which demanded she hand over the bank's money.
Quite wisely, the teller did as she had been ordered.
She loaded up the cash John had asked for and included, as an extra bonus, a dye pack which would explode, stain, and help identify the stolen money.
Ford scooped up the money, his demand note, and made his getaway. His was not exactly what you would call a "clean" getaway.
It didn't take too long before Ford was pulled over by the police and his vehicle searched. There the police found some interesting evidence:
· For example, they found a 38-caliber pistol in Ford's car.
· They also found a lot of cash in Ford's car, cash which had been stained a bright red.
The one thing that seemed to be missing was Ford's robbery note. They police couldn't find it. In fact, they didn't find it -- not until they reviewed a tape taken from a squad car's dashboard camera.
The tape showed that while policemen were busy searching Ford in front of their vehicle, Ford managed to scarf up a note one of the officers had found on him and tossed on the car's hood. Police noted the paper Ford ate was folded and the same size as the sheet which had been used in the robbery.
It amazes me how far people are willing to go to cover their sins. Adam and Eve tried to hide from God and Ford tried to eat the evidence against him. Most of us prefer to pretend that while we may be sinners, we are small sinners, that is, when compared to others.
Unfortunately for us, God doesn't compare us with other sinners. He compares our sins to His perfection and when that happens, we lose.
To save the losers of this world, meaning all of us, God sent His Son, Jesus. From before the Savior was born, He was destined to be the ransom who would buy our salvation. That He had to come is a sadness; that He was successful in His mission is salvation.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, touch us so that we repent of our sins rather than try to cover them. Then, having acknowledged our wrongdoing, let us rejoice in the forgiveness the Savior's sacrifice has won. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Today's Bible Readings: Ezekiel 40-41 2 Peter 3
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