Two young men were close friends—had been all through boyhood, had gone to school together, played together, and were always together. They went to college together too. One became a lawyer, and at length a judge. The other was a business man, but his dealings were not always right, and he went on in his dishonest ways for some time.
At length his deceit and fraud were discovered, and he was arrested and called to appear in court. What was his astonishment when he found hielf face to face with his old friend—not now as a friend, but as a judge. The court room was full, as many knew that these two had been good friends and were curious to see what the judge would do to his friend. “Surely,” they thought, “he will let him off as easily as it is possible for him to do.”
The evidence was presented, wiesses were called, and the prisoner was pronounced guilty. But instead of being lenient with his friend, the judge iosed upon him the heaviest fine the law would allow for that offense. A murmur of disapproval passed through the crowded court room, but ceased immediately as the onlookers gazed in astonishment at the judge. They watched him lay aside his robes, and step down to where the prisoner stood. Taking his checkbook from his pocket, he wrote out a check for the full amount and handed it to the prisoner. As a judge he could do nothing but condemn him, but as his friend he could pay his great debt and set him free.
Sin must be punished, children, and the punishment of sin is death. “The soul that sinneth it shall die.” Ezek. 18:44Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. (Ezekiel 18:4). That is the fearful penalty our sins deserved—eternal death—eternal judgment. BUT Christ died FOR us. Now, if we believe that great truth we are saved—yes, saved from eternal death to live forever with our precious Saviour.
ML 05/06/1951