The Myth of Innocence

This man's name is Simon. He was in Sydney one Saturday night recently, minding his own business when he was assaulted without provocation by a group of rowdy troublemakers. Simon was found unconscious on George Street in the early hours of the morning, and according to the doctor who treated him, was minutes away from losing his life. He is recovering in hospital.

My 17 year old son and my 15 year old daughter were in Sydney last night. They are responsible, well behaved children, who don't look for trouble and consquently rarely find any of it. But what do you do when trouble finds you? I look at this picture and think it could, but for the grace of God, be my son, or my daughter. They didn't get home last night until after 2am, and my wife and were worried. We had text messages saying they were on their way, to comfort us, but anything could have happened on the one and half hour drive home.They could have become victims. Statistics.

Whether they were innocent or culpable would be a mute point if tragedy struck. Simon was an innocent bystander who was king hit by a stranger. Innocence did not save him, nor would it save my children from harm.

The fact is that we are all guilty. Guilty of something or other, and we all live with guilt. While many deny it, and others struggle with it all their lives, some admit it, confess it and seek help.There is no true innocence in humans. We are stained. There is nothing within us that can remove the impurity, the stench of sin, the burden of guilt. We need a Saviour. Have you met him yet?

Photograph courtesy of  Mitch Gardener via ABC News