why he died...

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There was a young man one time who lived in a western state. He had never done anything very wrong. But one day he was playing a game of cards and he lost his temper. Picking up a revolver, his temper. Picking up a revolver, He was arrested and tried. Finally he was sentenced to hang. But because of the wonderful life he had previously lived, his relatives and friends got up a petition for him. It seemed as though everyone wanted to sign it. Before long other towns and villages heard about it, and people all over thestate eagerly signed the petition. At last it was taken to the governor, who happened to be a Christian, and tears came to his eyes as he looked at the large baskets filled with petitions. He decided to pardon the young man and so, writing out the pardon, he put it in his pocket, and then dressed in the garb of a clergyman, he made his way to the prison. As he approached the death cell the young man sprang to the bars. "Get out of here," he cried. "I don't want to see you. I have had seven of your kind already. I had enough religion at home." "But," said the governor, "wait a moment, young man, I have something for you. Let me talk to you." "You heard what I said," responded the young man, "and if you don't leave immediately, I'll call the warden." "Very well," replied the governor, and with a sad heart he turned away and left. In a few moments the warden approached. "Well, young man," he said, "I see you have had a visit from the governor." "What!" cried the young man. "Was that man dressed in the garb of a clergyman the governor?" "He was," replied the warden, "and he had a pardon in his pocket for you, but you wouldn't even listen to him." "Get me pen, get me ink, get me paper," cried the young man. And sitting down he wrote, "Dear Governor, I owe you an apology. I am sorry for the way I treated you...." and so on. The governor received the letter, turned it over and wrote on the back, "No longer interestec in this case." The day came for the young man to die. "Is there anything you want to say before you die?" he was asked. "Yes," said the young man; "tell the young men of America that I am not dying for my crime. I am not dyingbecause I am a murderer. The governor pardoned me. I could have lived. Tell them that I am dying because I did not accept the governor's pardon."Can you think of how many people you have - through your negative attitude - driven away from yourself? There are some people around us whom we may consider useless to us; but if only we can really give them time and help, we would find that they own the key to a door we may want to unlock in the future. If any one of us is lost, it will not be because of our sins; it will be because we will not accept the the pardon that God offers through His Son. For if we refuse Jesus Christ, what can God do?