Don't Do The Crime, If You Can't Do The Time

Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time.

(Sammy Davis Jr. Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow. Capitol Records. 1976)

On the night of July 18th, a fire broke out in an extremely populous city. It began on a side of town where there were shops that sold flammable goods. The fire quickly spread and by most accounts, burned for five days. By the time the fire was contained, it had completely destroyed three and severely damaged seven of the fourteen city districts.

The year was 64 AD. Nero was the emperor of Rome. Some people of the day suspected that Nero started the fire. After all, he was known to do some strange things. There were many rumors about his activity during the fire. Some said he played the flute and others said he sang, while dressed in stage costume, while the city burned. Whatever the truth may be, he was certainly a suspect in the minds of the people of Rome, and began to receive some public blame for the fire.

When he realized that many were accusing him of starting the blaze, he did what most of us would do. Nero found a scapegoat. Nero decided to blame the Christians for almost destroying the city. The Roman historian Tacitus wrote of the events, Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace…Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind. Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths. Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired.

Nero found his scapegoat in the Christians. An 18-year old in Winona, Minnesota, found a scapegoat in his dog. No, the dog didn’t eat his homework, he vomited on the young man. The man crashed his car into a utility pole and left it. Witnesses led police to the man who they saw “walking a beagle” near the accident. When police caught up with the man, they found out that he had no driver’s license or insurance. The only excuse he could come up with was a quick redirection. He told them that he crashed because the dog threw up on him. He got a ticket anyway.

We seldom take the blame for our bad choices. It’s much more convenient to place the blame on someone or something else. The problem is, many times we are guilty of the crimes we have been charged with. If we made a bad choice, why is it so hard to admit to it and take the punishment?

I read a story recently about a pastor who had to go to traffic court for an expired license plate. He listened to all of the people, who were before him, tell the barrage of stories illustrating why they were not guilty. He was very embarrassed to be there, but when it was his turn he spoke up to the judge and declared his guilt. The judge was so shocked by his admission, that he let him go with no charges and no fine.

We must all come to the place with Christ where we admit that we are guilty of sin. We have all come up short when it comes to His standards. When we try to sidestep or blame someone else, we insult our Creator. He knows our hearts. He knows our motivations. He is like the judge that knew the people were guilty of the crimes they were accused of. However, when we, like that pastor, will admit our wrongs, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Even though we are guilty, Jesus paid the price for that guilt. We are able to be free from blame, guilt, and eternal punishment, because Jesus died and rose again. Stop playing the “blame game” and admit your sins to Him. He will forgive and forget.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2)