IN THE PARK of my old hometown there is an old cannon, on which I often used to sit as a child. It was said to have been used in a famous battle, but it had been taken from the enemy among other spoils of war. It cannot be fired now, nor can it do any harm, for it is spiked with a heavy piece of iron.
Our old Sunday school teacher was speaking to us one day of how the Lord Jesus in His death has destroyed the power of death, and spoiled its power for all who trust in Him.
“You all know the old cannon in the park, don’t you?” she asked. “Yes,” we all said.
“Then, you will notice it is spiked and can do none of you any harm. But it was not always so. Once it was an instrument of death in the hands of our enemies, but some brave soldiers went right up, took it out of the enemy’s hands, so that it might never be used against anyone again. I believe it cost some of them their lives, but that instrument of death frightens us no more.
“And,” said our earnest teacher, “that is just a little like what the Lord Jesus did for us when He died upon the cross. Single-handed at the cross, He met our great enemy, San, who had the power of death, and by His death and resurrection, He destroyed Satan’s power. Now all who believe in Jesus, the Son of God, have everlasting life. Death to them is like the old cannon, spiked and powerless. They can look it in the face without fear. I have seen a dying Christian rejoicing in Christ, and triumphing in the new life and in the glory he was soon to enter, even in the very presence of death.”
I never forgot those words. Now I know their meaning for I have Christ now as my Saviour. Dear reader, have you?
ML-09/25/1966