Paul Fauteck was caught stealing wallets at 13.

When he was kicked out of high school, he stole cars and bank accounts. By 21, he was in prison. There, he spent much of his time in solitary confinement. He just refused to obey the rules. It wasn’t until his beloved father passed away that he finally decided to do something better with his life.

When Fauteck was released from prison, he enrolled in school and passionately studied psychology. He became one of the most respected psychotherapists in Chicago. Then he found employment as a forensic psychologist and even wrote a book on counseling criminals how to climb out of the criminal mindset.

Finally, after years of trying to do right, the words he’d been longing to hear were given to him — “You’re forgiven.” President Bush issued him a pardon. Now he is accepted as a changed man. All the social blessings that come with being fully forgiven by the law are his.

We aren’t any less guilty than Fauteck. Even if we haven’t broken federal laws, we have at least broken God’s law — buried the truth, killed love, beat up other’s feelings. But our hearts have been eager for change, for goodness, for Jesus. When we claim responsibility for our spiritual crimes, praise God, He has granted us a heavenly pardon!