W. A. Criswell tells of a man, in the days of Queen Victoria, who was sentenced to life in prison for a crime he did not commit. A friend on the outside, convinced of his innocence, worked untiringly for his release. Finally, after years of research, the friend found the information he needed.
Before Queen Victoria herself, the man made his appeal and won his case. Queen Victoria signed the pardon for the man in prison. With gladness and joy, he went to the prison, entered the cell where his friend had been incarcerated and cried, “Look, I have your pardon. You are a free man....Your pardon has been signed by the queen herself”
Instead of a joyous response, the prisoner lifted his shirt to exhibit a large, ugly, devastating cancer. Gazing into the eyes of his liberator, the prisoner said, “Go ask the Queen if she can heal this.”
CONC: Sin is a cancer on the soul that leads inevitably to spiritual death. Only God can heal it. If we will return unto him in repentance, he will return unto us in redeeming power.