The Conscience Fund. It’s real. You can check it out. It’s used for voluntary contributions from people who have stolen from or defrauded the US Government. It was created in 1811 when a private citizen sent a check for $5.00 saying he had “misappropriated government funds while serving as a quartermaster in the Army.” He said he felt guilty.
“Suppose we call this a contribution to the conscience fund and get it announced in the newspapers,” suggested Treasury Secretary Francis Spinner. “Perhaps we will get some more.”
In the first twenty years the fund received $250,000. Here are some interesting contributions.
A Massachusetts man sent 9 cents for reusing a damaged stamp on a letter.
A man from Brazil sent $50 because he stole some items from the US Army between 1943 and 1946: Two pair of boots. Two pair of pants. A case of KC rations. And 30 pounds of meat.
In 1950 one person sent $139,000.
A former IRS employee mailed in $1.00 for four ballpoint pens she took from the office.
Most contributions are anonymous. Some identify themselves. And others are forwarded by ministers who have received death-bed confessions.
In 2004, one donor wrote, “Dear Internal Revenue Service, I have not been able to sleep at night because I cheated on last year’s income tax. Enclosed find a cashier’s check for $1,000.” Then he added, “If I still can’t sleep, I’ll send you the balance!”
Over $5.7 million has been sent in to the Conscience Fund.
All of these donors have one thing in common. Guilt. And their guilt was caused by the burden of sin. Sin and guilt are demoralizing. Debilitating. Destructive. And in the eternal sense, damning.
We have well documented in previous posts the seriousness of sin. But there is GOOD NEWS! God came to earth. In human form. In the man Jesus. And when He was crucified, he carried my sins to the cross!
Peter said, “(Jesus) bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness —“ (2 Pet 2:24) This text alludes to Isaiah’s divine prophecy from that marvelous passage in Isaiah 53.
“Surely He has borne our griefs. And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities…And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (Isa. 55:4-6).
On that Friday Jesus died on Calvary’s Hill for the sins all those who had ever lived. For those who were alive. And for all who would ever live. He died for Ken Weliever. And for you. The apostle Paul expressed it this way. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor 5:21)
What do you struggle with? What haunting memory? What mistake? What regret? What guilt? What failure? None of us are exempt or immune from sin. From its impact on our consciences. It can be a heavy load to carry.
And while restitution is fine, and when possible, it’s definitely appropriate. There needs to be more. Redemption. Forgiveness. Pardon. And Divine atonement. And that’s not something we can do by ourselves.
Because of God’s grace, mercy and love, we have forgiveness of sins through the blood of Jesus (Eph. 1:7). We now have an Advocate with God. A mediator. An intercessor. One who pleads our case. And our cause.
When I accept Jesus through faith, repentance and baptism, I come into a special relationship with Him. Because I have died with Christ, I become alive. Unto God. Unto a new life. Unto a life of righteousness (Romans 6:1-2). Christians are not perfect. Just pardoned. We’re not sinless, but sanctified.
Friday’s death on the cross reminds me of my sins. My need for Jesus’ sacrifice. My utter dependence upon him. But Sunday’s resurrection offer hope. Encourages me to live for my risen Savior. And provides a promise that one day, I can be resurrected to live with Him forever.
No guilt. No more. Because Jesus bore it all.
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
ThePreachersWord 
What a way to go into the weekend!! Thanks so much for these posts.
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