Let me tell you about one of the strangest court cases in American history.

Back during the days of the pony express, two men robbed a pony express carrier. They were caught, convicted, and sentenced to die by hanging. Friends brought the case of one of the men to the attention of the President of the United States. The President then signed a pardon for the one man. When the pardon was presented to him, he replied, “No thank you, I will die with my friend.”

That man would have been free. Free to live and to do whatever he chose to do. But he rejected his pardon.

There is, however, something stranger still. Everyday in this world men live under the penalty of spiritual death that ultimately will bring about eternal separation from God. Jesus Christ died on a cross and offered a pardon to all those who would accept it. Yet, millions die having rejected the pardon.