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Two students had stolen the answers to their college final. The punishment for cheating at the university was expulsion, but the students were convinced they would never be caught.
The morning of the big test, the professor walked into the lecture hall and began to share a story that happened over the weekend with the main theme focused on integrity. When he completed his story, he paused for a moment, and then asked the class, “What would you have done in that situation? Would you have acted with integrity?”
The class gave a few answers and then, when all was quite once again, the professor handed out the test and told them they could begin.
Opportunity had shown its face to these young men. They saw it as a chance to do wrong, but the professor was actually giving them yet another chance to do the right thing. But they just couldn’t bear the consequences.
“And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.” (Mark 3:1-6)
What was Jesus talking about? Was this man with the withered hand dealing with a life-or-death issue? Knowing what was in the hearts of the Pharisees, Jesus entered the synagogue to offer them yet another opportunity to see that He was the Messiah, God Himself, and for them to repent.
The law stated that only a medical act that was life-or-death could be performed on the sabbath. Jesus wasn’t just healing the man, He was offering life to the Pharisees. They were furious and outraged at anything that would disobey the laws and traditions they had set forth. Yet, they were the ones Jesus was speaking to when He said, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill?”
Why?
Because Jesus knew what was in their hearts and what they plotted to do.
They were breaking their own law as they plotted with the Herodians to destroy or kill Jesus.
They had the opportunity to do what was right, yet they chose to do what satisfied them.
Today, Jesus offers us the same opportunity. He knows what’s on our minds and in our hearts. The door is wide open, we must only confess our sins and repent. Will you turn to Him today? Will you recognize your sin for what it is and do the right thing?
Today is the day of salvation!
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