MY BUSINESS one day led me near to the courthouse. A policeman had just driven up to the door, and a large crowd had gathered around to watch the prisoners being taken to the jail. One after another the prisoners were led out, each escorted by two policemen. The faces of most told plainly the sort of life they had led. The reckless and the abandoned were there, feeling for the moment at least that “The way of transgressors is hard.” Prov. 13:1515Good understanding giveth favor: but the way of transgressors is hard. (Proverbs 13:15). But sin has its pleasures, and therefore its followers too.
The last of the prisoners was unlike the rest. He was quite young, his face was fair, he was neatly dressed, and as he saw the crowd watching him he hung his head in shame. I saw a big tear stealing down his cheek.
At that moment, an old man, his hair white as snow, rushed from the crowd, clasped the young prisoner in his arms, and sobbing as if his heart would break, he cried, “My boy! My boy! Oh, that I could die and save you from this disgrace —from ruin — from the jail! Why have you used your old father so? I fold you of God, and of heaven, but you would not listen; now they are taking you away — away! I shall go down brokenhearted to the grave.”
“Cheer up, Father,” said the young fellow, weeping. He was going to add more, but the policeman hurried him away and with rough hands they shoved him into the van. The door was shut, and the poor old man fell on the pavement weeping.
As I turned away, wiping the tears from my own eyes, I thought, “Here is love indeed! But in this love there is no power to save. The brokenhearted old father cannot change the young man’s condition. To prison the guilty boy must go; the law must take its course. This love is not mighty to save.”
Listen, dear friend, while I tell you of love which is mighty to save. The word of God has declared most solemnly, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die!” There is no power which can alter that decree. The law could not be altered to ease the sorrow of that poor old father. And not one jot or tittle of the holy requirements of God shall ever be set aside. And you too have sinned, judgment is pronounced upon you, the sentence must be executed.
But we tell you with gladness of love which is mighty to save — yes, to save you, a condemned sinner on the way to the eternal prison. We tell you of the Substitute — of Jesus who died, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.
Wonder of wonders! The offended, yet loving God gives His Son! “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son...” John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16). His love is mighty to save. He saw us in our ruin. But He found a ransom; the debt is paid, the law is magnified, sin is condemned.
Oh beloved, unsaved reader, the work is all done. God has taken the offending thing out of the way, and He is now beseeching you to be reconciled to Himself.
His love is mighty to save. As a criminal under the sentence of death who received a pardon, the hand of mercy stretches out toward you. Believe that God is love, that He gave His Son to die to satisfy His justice, and now we poor guilty sinners may be freed forever from condemnation.
A LITTLE child of seven,
Or even three or four,
May enter into heaven
Through Christ, the Open Door.
For when the heart believeth
On Christ, the Son of God,
’Tis then the soul receiveth
Salvation through His blood.
ML-12/18/1966