We Are All Crooks

I think some people will be shocked when they read the chapter in the book called Jesus Loves Crooks.  Not because they don’t believe that his love can reach them, but that we had such a front row seat to Eddie’s* transformation.  As the book tour unfolds, we will head into Folsom Prison to continue to tell the story of Jesus’ unconditional love.

But for many people there is a disconnection from truth; it’s between their head and their heart.  The heart says, “Sure, Jesus loves crooks.”  But the human mind tries to negotiate logic to the illogical equation of God’s restoration plan.  In the mind it doesn’t make sense. 

They say, “Seriously, love the least?  To love, you must die?  Serve... to be the greatest?” These seem like a paradox or a list of contradictions.  But in that paradox, a greater sense of clarity is produced.

When I look at Eddie’s story, I find myself.  Not because I’ve committed a crime or broken the law.  Not because I have ever been to jail.  But I am no different than Eddie because I, like all of us, have missed the mark.  I miss it every day.  The scripture says, ‘If we have broken one law, we have broken them all.”  Therefore, in short, we are all crooks in need of amnesty from God.  That is found in Jesus' love.

I realized in the eye’s of God we are all guilty.  If we were not, there would be no need for a Savior.  Yet, because of Jesus’ love for the crook, He did the time for my crime.  Not a bad deal.

On a side note, I logged on to a book website this week to see if the book had posted.  It had.  To my surprise a lady had posted and referenced the heartfelt grip of many of our stories.  She liked the crook chapter.  You will too. In her words, “The Eddie story is worth the price of the book.”

Until then,

Craig 

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