Have you heard the fascinating story of George Wilson?
In April 1830, George Wilson was found guilty of multiple crimes, including robbery of the mail, and endangering the life of mail carriers. The punishment for this crime was death by hanging. Friends lobbied on his behalf and were able to convince US President Andrew Jackson to offer Wilson a pardon.
This is where the story takes a strange twist. George Wilson refused the pardon. The official report, The United States versus George Wilson, states that Wilson was returned to court as they attempted to “force” him to take the pardon. It is recorded that George Wilson chose to “waive and decline any advantage or protection that which might be supposed to arise from the pardon referred to.” This had never happened before, so the case went before the Supreme Court.
Chief Justice John Marshall, who presided over the case, wrote, “A pardon is an act of grace, proceeding from the power entrusted with the execution of the laws … (But) delivery is not completed without acceptance. It may then be rejected by the person to whom it is tendered, and … we have no power in a court to force it on him.”
He also wrote, “A pardon is a slip of paper, the value of which is determined by the acceptance of the person to be pardoned. If it is refused, it is no pardon. George Wilson must be hanged.” And he was.
So why did George Wilson die? Was it for the crimes he committed or was it because he refused to accept the pardon?
Despite his crimes, George Wilson could have been pardoned if he had accepted it. The court documents state that originally Wilson pleaded not guilty, but later changed his plea to guilty. Wilson never explained his refusal.
Perhaps he felt he needed to die to pay for his crimes. Many people feel they need to earn their way to God, suffer for their sins, or do something to make it right.
The pardon extended to George Wilson was an “act of grace.” He didn’t deserve it, nor could he pay for it. All that was required on his part was to accept it.
In the same way, we can say of our salvation it is an act of grace.
We have been sentenced to death for breaking God’s law, yet Jesus died in our place so that legally our debt of sin can be dealt with.
Christ suffered and died for sins once for all. He never sinned and yet. He died for us who have sinned. He died so He might bring us to God.
(1 Peter 3:18)
It’s hard to imagine that George Wilson would be so foolish as to refuse a presidential pardon when faced with certain death. Incredibly, thousands of people today refuse the pardon God extends to them.
In Him we have redemption [that is, our deliverance and salvation] through His blood, [which paid the penalty for our sin and resulted in] the forgiveness and complete pardon of our sin, in accordance with the riches of His grace.
(Eph. 1:7 AMP)
A pardon for sins is available if we accept it by faith. Have you?
If you would like to know how to be pardoned from your sins and receive the free gift of salvation click the link. How to Have Your Sins Forgiven
