Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule:
2 Chronicles 33-36
The story is told about David Berkowitz who became infamous as a serial killer, taking the lives of six women and setting over a thousand fires before he was finally caught in 1977. Berkowitz gave himself the name “Son of Sam” based on his claim that a demon communicated with him through the dog of his neighbor, a man by the name of Sam. After his arrest, psychiatrists determined, however, that Berkowitz was legally sane. They could find no evidence that he actually believed that such alleged hallucinations were real. He was given a 365-year sentence.
According to Berkowitz’s testimony, ten years into his prison term, he found Christ. As he states on his Web site: “I was involved in the occult and I got burned. I became a cruel killer and threw away my life as well as destroyed the lives of others. Now I have discovered that Christ is my answer and my hope. He broke the chains of mental confusion and depression that had me bound. Today I have placed my life in His hands. I only wish I knew Jesus before all these crimes happened… they would not have happened.” (Forgiven for Life)
Many people are happy to welcome Berkowitz as a redeemed brother, but others are not convinced. Some people go so far as to declare that, given what the “Son of Sam” has done, it is inconceivable that God would forgive him and allow him into heaven. That is dangerous and incredibly judgmental in light of Romans 5:20 “But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.”
We should never go so far as to say that it is not possible for Berkowitz to be saved. We cannot put a limit on the amount of sin that God can forgive. There is no person so evil that he could not come to God in faith and be forgiven. Our prime example of this truth is King Manasseh. He may have been the worst king Judah ever had. However, he repented and turned to God, and God accepted him. This is the “gospel according to Ezra” in full bloom.
Prayer Requests:
Personal
- Lord, please help me to never question the ability and willingness of God to forgive sin.
- Lord, please help me to demonstrate a heart of gratitude for the forgiveness God has extended to me.
- Lord, please help me to never give up on people and to remember that every person will spend eternity somewhere.
Political
- Representative Sue Allor – District 106 – Wolverine
- US Representative Justin Amash – District 3 – Cascade Twp.
- Senator Jim Ananich – District 27 – Flint