It’s up to us to choose Heaven, God

The following was copied from the internet. It tells of an event in the life of Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia.
“One bitterly cold night in January of 1935, the mayor turned up at a night court. The court served the poorest ward of the city. Mayor LaGuardia dismissed the judge for the evening and took over the bench himself. Within a few minutes, a tattered old woman was brought before him, charged with stealing a loaf of bread. She told Mayor LaGuardia that her daughter’s husband had deserted her.
Her daughter was sick and her two grandchildren were starving. But the shopkeeper, from whom the bread was stolen, refused to drop the charges. “It’s a really bad neighborhood, your Honor,” the man told the mayor. “She’s got to be punished to teach other people around here a lesson.” Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia sighed. He turned to the woman and said, “I’ve got to punish you. The law makes no exceptions. Ten dollars or ten days in jail.” Even as he pronounced the sentence, the mayor was already reaching into his pocket.
He extracted a bill and tossed it into his famous hat. He proclaimed, “Here is the ten dollar fine which I now remit; and furthermore I am going to fine everyone in this courtroom fifty cents for living in a town where a person has to steal bread so that her grandchildren can eat.
Mr. Bailiff, collect the fines and give them to the defendant. ”The following day, a New York newspaper reported the incident. A bewildered woman who had stolen a loaf of bread to feed her starving grandchildren received $47.50. The grocery store owner himself contributed fifty cents of that amount.

Furthermore, some seventy petty criminals, people with traffic violations, and New York City policemen participated. Each of whom had just paid fifty cents for the privilege of doing so, gave the mayor a standing ovation.” Someone, commenting on this story, said “Sympathy says “I see, and I’m sorry, compassion says I see, and how can I help?” There is some doubt as to the validity of this event but there can be no question as to it’s illustration of the difference between “sympathy” and “compassion” By using the word “grace” in place of “compassion” we understand Paul’s words in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God: not as a result of works, that no one should boast.”
We have been found guilty (Romans 3:23, For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.)
Jesus has paid the price for our sin, (1 Peter 2:24, And He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.)
It’s up to each individual to accept the gift of eternal life. (1 John 1:9-10, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.)
Rev. Gerold McBride is pastor of Lithium Baptist Church in Perry County. He may be reached by email at geroldmcbride@gmail.com or by phone at 573-547-8954.