Billy the Kid is still waiting for his pardon. The notorious teenage outlaw was promised amnesty by New Mexico Territorial Governor Lew Wallace back in 1879 in exchange for testimony against three men in a murder trial. Apparently, Wallace never kept his word.
In recent years, Governor Bill Richardson announced his intention to pardon Billy (whose real name was Henry McCarty; "Billy" came from his alias, William Bonney). However, Richardson decided against doing so on his last day in office, and Billy continues to wait for his pardon.
None of this matters to Billy, of course. He's long past caring about whether the State of New Mexico considers him a fugitive or not. Politicians can say what they want, but young Billy's fate was decided long ago. As the writer of the biblical book of Hebrews says "man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment" (Hebrews 9:27).
What about my pardon? I never killed anyone, as Billy the Kid is said to have done. I've done no time in prison nor ever been in trouble with the law. But I need a pardon, just as badly as Billy does.
The Bible says that everyone has sinned and needs God's mercy (Romans 3:23). Without God's pardon, I'm no better off than Billy the Kid or any other villain who has lived on this earth. Fortunately, God doesn't make me wait. The same passage that says that we've all sinned also says that Jesus paid the price for that sin, so that I don't have to (Romans 3:24).
If you don't know how to receive the pardon God offers, let me invite you to visit our www.hopeforlife.org website. Read through the four steps you'll find there, and you'll learn that you don't need a governor to declare you not guilty. God can do that for you today. No waiting involved.
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