I guess I'm different in what I think.

We want to think of him as evil incarnate and put him out there with people who are not like us; people who deserved to go to Hell.
We say that we'd never do what he did, we are different.

No we aren't.

We are all just like him in that we have the capacity to be as evil as he was and if it weren't for the restraining hand of God...both Manson and ourselves would be 1000 times worse.

Yes, Manson deserved Hell but so do we. We are all rebel sinners who deserve justice and if the story ended there, it wouldn't be a happy one but there is more.

God saves sinners.

Yes, the just God is also the merciful God who saves sinners in spite of their condition.

I don't know Charles Manson's eternal destiny for sure but I do know mine if it weren't for a loving merciful God who's long-suffering and faithful to save even folks like me.

If you do, or if you have a friend or family member who thinks that they are "good to go" because they "aren't that bad" and "try their best" please give this some thought...talk to them, let them know that God doesn't grade on a curve.