IN the year 1887 the Queen of England and I Empress of India sent forth various proclamations in connection with the Jubilee of her reign. One of these held out an offer of pardon for deserters from her army. It ran thus: “We do hereby grant our most gracious pardon to all men who, having before the date of this proclamation deserted, or absented themselves without leave from our regular land forces, and shall report themselves within two months of the date of this proclamation.”
Now there were three things worthy of note in this offer of pardon.
It was only for one special class.
It was with one specified condition.
It was available during one prescribed period of time.
As to the first, no doubt many a civilian, scanning that proclamation, would say like the writer, “Here’s a grand offer for somebody, but it doesn’t refer to me.” Many a soldier, too, might read it and say the same. One class alone was included in the gracious offer. It was for a deserter, and for him only, but it was for every deserter— “to all.”
In the second place there was only one way of procuring the offered pardon. He must “report” himself as a deserter.
Thirdly. There was a limit to his opportunity— “within two months of the date of the proclamation.”
How simply the way of royal pardon was opened up for the deserter. How welcome to those who had long wished to return, but dreaded the consequences. Now was the time. Such a chance would never come again. Queen Victoria could have no more jubilees. It must therefore be now or never.
Does not this remind my reader of another and far more momentous proclamation—one that proceeds, not from the clemency of any earthly sovereign, but from the very heart of God Himself. How worthy of our consideration therefore. Let us compare the two.
1. TO WHAT CLASS IS GOD’S PROCLAMATION SENT?
“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15).
“Whosoever believeth in Him [Christ] shall receive remission of sins.” (Acts 10:43).
2. ON WHAT CONDITION IS THE BLESSING RECEIVED?
“God looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.” (Job 33:27, 28). If Jesus the Son of God took the sinner’s place on the cross to secure his pardon, surely that guilty one cannot do less than take the sinner’s place at His feet and confess his need of this pardon. Countless millions have thus come to Him already, and not one was turned empty away. With one voice they all can say, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (Isa. 53:6).
3. FOR HOW LONG DOES THE OFFER STAND GOOD?
It is here where the Queen’s offer and God’s so widely differ. “Two months” was the narrow limit of one: eighteen centuries have not seen the end of the other!
Then how much longer can I defer the acceptation of God’s offer? The answer is serious, and, as you value your soul, mark it well—NOT ANOTHER DAY! “Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” (Prov. 27:1). “To day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” (Heb. 4:7). “Behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2).
But this was not the whole of this royal proclamation. It continued thus:
“We do hereby make further declaration that every offender herein referred to, who shall not avail himself of the pardon we most graciously offer, shall be held amenable to all the pains and penalties provided under the army act.”
Was there anything hard or unrighteous about this part of the announcement? Nothing. The offender, refusing to avail himself of so gracious an offer, proved himself richly deserving of “all the pains and penalties” due to his offense.
There is one important difference, however, between one who refuses pardon after violating English martial law, and one who aggravates the sin of willful rebellion against God by the refusal of His divine forgiveness. The former might, perhaps, escape after all; but no possibility of escape for the latter, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” (Heb. 2:3).
“When they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction shall come upon them... and they shall not escape.” (1 Thess. 5:3). “See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven.” (Heb. 12:25).
You have no time to waste, unforgiven reader. Pardon deferred today may be forfeited forever; and when judgment at last shall fall upon your guilty head, whom will you find in heaven or earth or hell that will either blame God for your damnation, or pity you in receiving it? Forgive yourself you never will—never! That is certain. If contempt of justice in an English law court does not go unpunished, how will contempt of grace be treated at the bar of God?
It cost Queen Victoria little more than the paper her proclamation was printed on to send her offer of pardon; but God must deliver up to the suffering and death of the cross His only-begotten Son, ere the news of a righteous pardon can reach your ears and mine. And now that all this has been done on your behalf, can you still refuse so gracious an offer? There is, then, only one dread alternative, “all the pains and penalties” pronounced in God’s holy word against Christ-rejectors must certainly be yours. Prepare yourself for the worst, for as God is true the worst will be yours: “Behold, ye despisers, and WONDER, and PERISH.” (Acts 13:41). But why will ye die?
GEO. C.