Recently, I was reminded via Facebook of the testimony of Jake Eakin. I strongly recommend you read his testimony in his own words, but to sum it up, when he was just 12 years old in 2003, Eakin became an accessory to the murder of Craig Sorger.
Murder is certainly no small crime, and so it always inspires me when I hear of murderers who receive salvation from the Lord Jesus Christ. Sadly, the unsaved do not always see it this way. Whenever Jake does his ministry work, those who know his story are quick to point out that he is, himself, a murderer.
When seeing these comments, it's tempting to respond by pointing out that Jake, while he was accessory to murder, did not actually intend to be involved. It was his then best friend, Evan, who committed the murder. Jake, out of fear, struck Craig's motionless body with the stick with which he had intended to strike Evan. But I feel this temptation would be misguided. See, it runs counter to the message Jake seeks to give with his testimony, along with running counter to God's own message.
Even when Jake was initially convicted, he did not feel justice was miscarried. "I deserved worse", he told one reporter. Following his conviction, he eventually came to know the Lord, repenting not only of this particular murder, but of all of his sins. To this day, Jake's remorse for his part in Craig's death motivates him to speak out against the brutal (not to mention legal) murder of the unborn that saturates American culture. Jake's message is not "I don't care about Craig Sorger", as some wrathful commenters claim, but rather "what I did was wrong, and abortion is wrong too".
But Jake carries a greater message. The same message that saves him can save even greater sinners than him. Even Evan!
See, the beauty of the Gospel is this: No one is exempt. God can save the "chief of sinners", like Paul. As Saul, Paul would actively seek to kill Christians. As Paul, every Christian he helped to kill rejoiced when he entered Christ's presence with them. Not even murder is beyond God's capacity to forgive.
But it is beyond man's capacity to forgive. Jake's page is littered with angry comments from sinners who, rejecting God's salvation for themselves, continue to mock God's salvation for Jake. All these people see is a 12 year old murderer. Jake does not seek to justify his past, but they act as if he does. Jake has repented of Craig's murder, but they act as if it was his proudest moment. When Jake denounces the murder of the innocent, they act as if Jake is pleased that Craig's life was ended. The trolls on Jake's page see only his past.
But God sees a brighter future, because the Gospel is not only for murderers. Scripture tells us plainly, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and the wages of sin is death. Jake deserves Hell, and acknowledges that fact. We all deserve Hell, but only those who acknowledge it, and rely on the grace of the God who died for them, will be spared its fires.
It is a sad fact that every human being on this earth will die. Whether slaughtered in the womb, or lying in bed on the starry night of their 120th birthday, every single man, woman, and child, will be called before God, and judged for every deed, every word, and even every thought. And when it's your turn, Jake Eakin will be nowhere to be seen. God will not be judging Jake, but you. You cannot say "yes God, I broke your holy laws, but Jake Eakin is a murderer", because the response will be "I never knew you. Depart from me, you who practice iniquity." Other people's sins do not justify yours. And so the only way to receive the eternal life Jake has received is the same way Jake himself received it: Confess Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead.