Bud Moss on Death Row

Opened up the Internet this morning to see Johnny Depp pleading for the lives of 3 men imprisoned in Arkansas. Seems the group were convicted of murdering three boys in 1994. According to Depp, the men in prison are innocent and only the victims of a rush to justice. As a result, he will appear on an episode of 48 Hours this Saturday to make an appeal for a new trial. After reading more about the case, it turns out, "Depp joins such celebrity activists as Eddie Vedder, Henry Rollins, Dixie Chicks, Margaret Cho, Winona Ryder, South Park's Trey Parker, Marilyn Manson and even Demi Lovato calling for the West Memphis Three's release."

Now listen, I know what you're thinking. 'Bud's a blogger. He likes to hit home runs in the blogosphere. Here is a hanging curveball of a story. This one is going to end up in the cheap seats.' Ok. I admit it. At first glance, this is too easy. Hollywood celebrities 'acting' like Supreme Court justices. How many times have we seen this? Sean Penn starring as secretary of state. Michael J Fox portrays a political activist. The list goes on and on. As much as I want to comment, I will let that pitch pass me by.

However, I want to use this story to illustrate a bigger point. An eternal point. The point that I hope we all must get.

Of the three convicted murderers, one received a death sentence while the remaining two got life. Depp actually mentions that man by name, "Damien Echols is on death row to be killed by lethal injection." He has been on death row for 15 years. Now lets be clear, these men were convicted by a jury of their peers. They were not put in prison without a trial. It is certainly possible that they are completely guilty. Or completely innocent. I have no idea. Nor does Johnny Depp for that matter.

With that in mind, let me share one truth that might not be evident to all, "Bud Moss has been on death row for over 36 years today." What?! That's right, death row. Just like Damien Echols, death hangs over my head every day. How did you get such a sentence? I sinned against a Holy God. Although there are multiple counts on this charge, one sin led to the death sentence.

How was the trial on those charges? Fast. One day, I read this in the Bible, "For the wages of sin is death..." Since I had obviously sinned numerous times, death was the inevitable result. You say, "Bud, everybody sins." Yeah, and everybody dies.

On top of that, I sit on death row awaiting a new trial on the same charges. Whew. Glad to hear that. I was about to call Johnny Depp. Just like last time, this verdict is final. However, this sentence lasts forever. No chance of appeal. Innocent means eternity in heaven. Guilty means eternity in hell. I can't blow this trial.

You are innocent right? I mean this new trial will clear you of all charges, right? Nope. I am guilty as charged. I did sin multiple times. Hell should be my destination. I need a good defense strategy. Ok, Bud we can help. Listen, God is a forgiving God. Just tell him you are sorry and he will forgive you. Easy enough? Well, I don't know. Let's try that with the above mentioned case. Lets suppose the Memphis 3 get a new trial. This time they walk into the courtroom and say to the judge, "We killed those 3 boys, but we are truly sorry. We were young. We didn't realize we could get a death sentence for that. Please let us go." Would they be released? Absolutely not. A fair judge would demand that they pay for the crime. So there goes that plan. Being sorry won't work.

Ok, I got it. Tell God about all the good things that you do. You go to church. You help people. You pray. You are a good person overall. Hey...that might work for other folks on trial in America. Tell the judge that all the good things you have done in life should cause him to overlook the murder you committed. I mean the scales in their minds are probably tipped to the 'good person' side. Sound ridiculous? Just recently in South Carolina, a church deacon was convicted of robbing a bank and sent to prison. It would have sounded absurd for him to ask the judge to let him go because he was a deacon. But many people will play the good person defense with God on that day. It won't work either.

Only one defense will work on that Judge. He will demand punishment and payment for my crimes. He is the perfect Judge. He shows no partiality. He hears no excuses. He demands justice. The scene will feature me and the Judge. No witnesses will be needed. My guilt will be evident. What can I do? Say I'm sorry? No. Say I'm really a good guy? No. That won't work with an imperfect judge on Earth. Surely won't work with a perfect Judge in heaven. What to do? Hope Hollywood shows up to defend me? No. I will be undefendable. I will need Someone to literally swap lives with me on that day. You know, give me their life without crime and take my life full of crime. An exchange would work. A trade. A barter. Something like that. Not gonna happen. I mean who would trade places with the Memphis 3 if they are really guilty. Who would trade places with any guilty criminal? Who wants punishment for a crime they did not commit? Who wants a lethal injection in place of the real criminal? That's unimaginable to any of us. Impossible.

What a God we have who provides the Substitute! "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree" Galatians 3:13.

That day in that courtroom, Jesus will be my Deliverer! He will walk in and I will walk out a free man into heaven.

Indescribable joy. Underserved freedom. Unbelievable mercy.

I don't know the fate of the Memphis 3. They may be innocent. Maybe Johnny Depp will win their freedom. Maybe not. But I do know those three men and the rest of world will stand before God one day, and on that day, a man named Johnny will be no help. Only a man named Jesus will.