On October 4, 2011, a man who spent 25 years in prison for his wife’s murder, was released after DNA evidence implicated another man in the crime.  One year later, a disciplinary petition was filed against the prosecutor in the case, and after another year the prosecutor agreed to serve 10 days in jail, perform 500 hours of community service, give up his law license, and pay a fine of $500. The prosecutor was charged with withholding testimony which would have prevented the man from serving 25 years in jail.

        The first person to be exonerated through DNA evidence occurred in 1989, and to date 375 people have been exonerated through DNA evidence.  People exonerated have served an average of fourteen years in 37 different states.  Twenty-one of these people served time on death row, and 44 pled guilty to crimes they did not commit.

        “Words from Above” tell us in the Bible that perfect justice will one day be executed by the Supreme Judge of the Universe, Almighty God Himself. Not only does God know all things, but He can never be fooled or deceived by anyone or anything.  The prophet Isaiah spoke in Isaiah 9:7 of a coming Messiah “whose government and peace shall never end, and whose kingdom shall be established with judgment and justice forever.”

        Hebrews 4:12 tells us that “the Word of God is a living word that is full of power and sharper than any two-edged sword, able to pierce even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”  What this means is that God can reveal to us what He sees in our hearts and minds as we read the Word of God.  The apostle Paul said in Romans 1:16 that the Word of God contains the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and that this message has the power to convince people of their need of salvation.

        James, the brother of Jesus, explains that reading the Word of God is like looking in a mirror.  Just like we see our face in a mirror, we see what we look like in the eyes of God when we read the Word of God.  He calls the Word of God “the perfect law of liberty” which not only shows us what we look like in the eyes of God, but shows us how we can freed from our sins.  James concludes that the Word of God perfectly judges us, giving us perfect justice.  Trusting in the blood of Jesus which He shed on the Cross for us  completely exonerates us.

Larry R. Steffee is pastor of the Center Hill Brethren In Christ Church on Miller Road in Smithville.  Everyone is welcome to attend.  For informa-tion, you may email lrsteffeetn@yahoo.com.