Life Sentence

Does 'Life' mean life?
This question is often asked when a convicted murderer is released from prison, after serving the sentence given by the courts. In some cases, the release is much publicised in the media. Apparently, many people believe that some sentences are too lenient, while others appear too hash.
So the Homicide Review Advisory Group are suggesting that the time has come to seek to match the severity of the crime to the length of the prison sentence. The mandatory life sentence replaced the death penalty in 1965.
This question will no doubt be debated and discussed up and down the land.
When Jesus called people to follow him, he used very graphic language.
'Then Jesus said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?' (Luke 9.23-25)
The call of Jesus is to a life sentence, which means we follow him for the rest of our lives. With this life sentence, there is no remission for good behaviour, when some acts of selfless sacrifice can be balanced by some indulgent hedonism. Here, there is no parole board, and no excuses for not taking up the cross daily.
I find that challenge bracing.
Instead of being shaped by the comfort-driven ethos of our culture, I recall that Jesus' call is to whole-life discipleship, where my comfort and pleasure are low priorities.
But at least that is clear. As the greed-obsessed food binge that is coming our way approaches, our call is to follow Jesus, for life. What a privilege!
Best wishes,
Richard