One hundred years ago people stuffed newspaper into their walls to serve
as insulation.
Newsprint wasn't the best insulation, but it was
free, plentiful and easy to use. Even though far better products have
come on the market, there are still a few people who insist on using
paper to keep their home warm and cool during the appropriate seasons.
One such paper-stuffing individual is Luis Hernandez-Gonzalez, a man
who runs a successful gardening business in Miami, Florida. His walls
were stuffed with paper.
And if you are stifling a yawn and
saying, "What's the big deal?" I can tell you this: that while
Hernandez-Gonzalez was stuffing his walls with paper, he wasn't using
newspaper. Nope, the paper he was using was smaller and greener -- just
about the size of money.
Well, actually, it wasn't just about the
size of money; it was money.
The police who raided the home of
44-year-old Hernandez-Gonzalez found $24 million stuffed into a secret
compartment in his wall. Now while Hernandez-Gonzalez's business is
doing well, he's not doing that well, which maybe explains why he was
charged with money laundering and marijuana trafficking.
Investigation also showed that Hernandez-Gonzalez's "Blossom Experience"
store was selling lights and fans to help marijuana growers with their
illegal crop.
Now the articles I read about Hernandez-Gonzalez
don't say anything about his reaction when police started carting out
those millions of dollars. I can only imagine that he was shocked when
those officers breached his almost-perfect hiding location.
Over
the years I have come to the conclusion that there are a lot of people
like Hernandez-Gonzalez.
No, they aren't laundering money or
helping grow marijuana, but like him they do keep their deep, dark sins
in what they consider to be a most secret place. This they do because
they figure if people can't see those sins, they will manage to escape
any kind of judgment or discipline.
Now it's true, an individual
may be able to keep their sins hidden from the prying eyes of humanity,
but they will never be able to keep those sins hidden from the Lord. As
the book of Revelation says, God "searches mind and heart." Then, having
looked at every aspect of our transgressions, the Lord promises to give
us the reward our works deserve.
This is why we need Jesus as our
Savior. Our works are sad and sorrowful things, worthy of condemnation.
But when Jesus lives within a human heart, those sins are forgiven.
There is peace and a promised place in heaven.
THE PRAYER: Dear
Lord, may we admit and confess our sins to You. Then, because of Jesus,
may we rejoice in the forgiveness we receive. This I ask in the Savior's
Name. Amen.
Pastor Ken
Klaus Lutheran Hour Ministries All rights reserved;
not to be duplicated without permission.
