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Themes: Forgiveness JED "That will be $3.00 for a wash and wax." Jimmy Watson announced to the older man in the Cadillac. Jimmy took the money and smiled. Cars were lining up at the Wishy Washy Car Wash. As he turned to motion the next car forward, the smile suddenly left his face. Mrs. Johnson! Instantly he felt the urge to run and hide. For three years he had tried to avoid this moment.
Like a flood, the memory of August 14, 1987 poured into his mind. He left the high school football game and spun the wheels of his Mustang GT. His stereo blared as he raced from the parking lot in Marion Center, Pennsylvania onto the country road toward his house.
Not a car was in sight so he stepped on the gas pedal. The speed limit was 45 but he wanted to see how fast his new "set of wheels" would go. 35-40-45-50-55-65-70-75! Jimmy was smiling as he raced through the hills and around the tight corners. As the crest of the hill zoomed up in front of him, he gave the accelerator an extra punch with his foot. The car sped over the hill and around the curve right toward the intersection in the little town of Home. Jim knew the light would be a blinking yellow as always. What he didn't know was that a 54 year old man was crossing the road right then. Jim jammed on the brakes and tried to veer out of the way. He lost control and heard the sickening thud as the car slammed into Mr. Johnson.
When Jimmy's car came to rest in the ditch, he jumped out and raced toward the still form of Mr. Johnson. Jimmy stood stunned. Inside his head the same words pounded over and over. "I killed a man. I killed a man."
Since the accident, he had been to court, paid his fines, and spent time in jail. Often as he sat in his cell, the guilt of what he had done seemed to surround him. He tried to imagine how Mrs. Johnson felt living alone without the husband she loved. He dreaded ever having to see her again. He had managed to escape this awful moment until today. Now he was stuck!
Mrs. Johnson pulled forward and rolled down the window of her white Oldsmobile. Jimmy stood silent as tears came to his eyes. "I'm so sorry Mrs. Johnson," he sputtered as best he could.
She smiled, "I have been wanting to see you, Jimmy. Yes, you killed my husband and it still hurts me. I am a Christian now and I want you to know that God has helped me to forgive you. I am praying that you'll get saved like I have through the Lord Jesus."
Jim just cried more as he tried to thank her. "How could she do this? She really has forgiven me."
You have sinned against God and hurt Him hundreds of times. However, the good news is that God still wants you to come to Him. He has found a way so He can forgive you for your sins. Because His Son, the Lord Jesus has died on the cross. Through this man, we can have "the forgiveness of sins." (Acts 13:38)
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Simon Wallace
