In a large Canadian city during a long and severe winter the snow had fallen heavily. Only the constant exertion of the snowplow could keep the streets open for traffic. On one of the main streets drifts had accumulated against some advertisement boards till they were quite hidden from view.
As spring advanced the welcome thaw set in. Slowly the snow melted. Inch by inch the advertisements were uncovered.
Morning by morning a bank manager passed down that street to his place of business. One morning to his astonishment he read on the advertisement board the words:
“ THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH.”
Months before some earnest Christians had utilized the boards to put up a large Scripture text. It had been placed in a prominent position where all the passers-by would behold it. Doubtless they had prayed fervently that God might use this service for His glory and the blessing of souls. The first line of the text was now uncovered and met the astonished gaze of the bank manager. Like a barbed arrow this message of conviction from. God's own Word was carried by the Holy Spirit to its lodging place—straight into the heart of this man of, business. Day by day these terrifying words met his gaze as he journeyed to and fro.
“Terrifying! I don't see anything to terrify one in those words. We must all die sometime." Thus the reader may reply. Mere words may not alarm you. The reality will. As a sinner you are earning the wages of death. God in righteousness must pay you your wages—not merely death, but judgment, for we read in God's Word:
Friend, think! Every beat of your heart, every throb of your pulse, each rising and setting sun brings you nearer to the day of reckoning. Are you ready?
God used these words as the means of arousing the bank manager to his great need of salvation. The question of all questions was wrung from the very depths of his troubled soul: "What must I do to be saved?" He longed for peace. Where could it be found? He little dreamed that the thaw that had uncovered the soul-disturbing, conscience-convicting words would likewise bring a peace-giving message.
One morning on his way to business he read on the board:—
“The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Blessed sequel! He feared the wages of his sinful life—death. But God now offered him a gift— eternal life through Christ. How much these sweet words meant to him! They brought peace to his soul.
Do these words mean anything to you, reader? If you are still in your sins, think what the reckoning will be! Eternal death. I pray you accept now God's gift of eternal life. "Believe on the Lord Jesus. Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31).