People Can Change

 

In the 1100s, in an effort to protect travelers going from northern Spain over the Pyrenees Mountain Range to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia (Noted in the book “Dogs of God” by James Reston Jr., p50), a military force known as the hermandad’s (Spanish: “the brotherhood”) was organized. Soon, these vigilantes spread across Spain and offered themselves as protectors of roads and merchants. Eventually appointed as a national police force who could collect taxes and prevent insurrection in every municipality, they would go on to exterminate untold numbers of Muslims, Jews, and other “enemies of the state” during the Middle Ages. Reston mentions an unsettling “right” granted to the hermandad’s in the 15th Century, during the famous reign of Isabella and Ferdinand. He writes, “In a curious turnabout, executions took place first, and trials were held afterwards” (p51).

Given our country’s constitutional concept of “innocent until proven guilty,” this practice seems both backward and barbaric. How useful is a trial to present facts about a case after the defendant has been executed? What if the deceased was found innocent? What if there was no proof of guilt? Of course, the “facts” of every case incredibly supported the punitive action that preceded it. While we may find such a practice appalling, how often do we do the same with our tongues? Through rash anger, reckless gossip, and rabid prejudice, we can serve as judge, jury, and executioner of the reputation and actions of another. “But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way” (James 3:8-10). How often do we jump to conclusions and assassinate another’s character, but later revelations prove our actions both premature and unjustifiable? Unfortunately, the damage having been done, nothing produced by way of reparation can fully undo the effects upon the victim. Be careful! Even when we think we have the facts about another, let us post a guard outside the door of our lips (cf. Psalm 141:3). What we need to see is the spiritual danger we face who “execute” before “trial.” “He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him” (Proverbs 18:13). Better to deliberate and reserve judgment than to execute before the trial has been held!

[Romans 1:16] Jesus Christ introduced into the world the greatest power to change men the world has ever known. That power is the gospel: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…” It is sometimes said of those in sin, “They will never change.” While it is true that sin can have a death grip on anyone, it is also possible, if one’s heart be willing, to make a complete transforming change in their way of living – turn their life around.

An elderly man spent years of vanity in the nothingness of ungodly living and looking back with tear-filled eyes over the mountains of heartaches and acres of regrets cried, “I’m so tired of sin. Can someone help me?” A drunkard became disgusted with himself and said, “I want to change.” He did. You can too. Yes, people can change. Peter changed from a coward into an intrepid proclaimer of God’s word (Matthew 26:74; Acts 2:1-42). An up-and-coming young Pharisee named Saul first persecuted the church, but he changed and began “…preaching the faith which once he destroyed” (Galatians 1:23). What great hope the gospel brings! Do you need to make a change? The change begins in obedience to the gospel, the good news of salvation. (Acts 2:38; Galatians 3:27; Romans 6:1-14).