Emil lived in Central Europe in a village with a long unpronounceable name. One day three men who had offended the government were brought into the village to be hanged.
Two of the men were put to death at once but the third, who had a wife and several young children, begged for mercy.
The officials present sent to headquarters some miles distant to ask if it might be granted to him. All day long the villagers, the condemned man, his wife and children waited in suspense, sometimes almost beside themselves in anguish and terror. At last the crowd made way for the messenger bringing the reply. It was a glorious answer the man was to be forgiven and released. The joy of all was great; and the man went home with his wife and family, free to enjoy a happy meal and then a peaceful sleep a forgiven man to whom mercy had been shown.
Emil, who had witnessed all that had happened, could not sleep that night. He went' over all the events of the day; and as he thought and thought, it came to him that the man who was pardoned had asked for mercy and received it. Then his thoughts tuned upon himself. He knew that he was a sinner in God's sight, and condemned for what does God say? "He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." John 3:1818He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18)
Emil knew that he had never believed and felt his need for mercy, and so he got out bed and on his knees. He prayed to God to forgive is sing, and give him faith in His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. It was a never to be forgotten night for Emil, for "God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we Were dead in sins," gave him to know in his heart and mind that he was forgiven. He got up and dressed to start a new day with a new life, for God had had mercy on him.
Every man, woman and child is in need of this grace and mercy of God. Adam fell into sin. The whole human race partakes' of that fall. We are by nature rebels against' God—we have all sinned against Him. BUT, even though we are His enemies, He sent His Son to die in our stead, and now offers a free pardon to all who will accept.
Have you seen your own ruined, lost, desperate condition before God? How much greater is it than that of the condemned man in our story! We stand in danger of eternal imprisonment in the lake of fire. But God does not will the death of the sinner, but rather that he might accept the free gift of God—eternal life—and be saved forever to live and rejoice in God's great, eternal, boundless love.
Believe NOW while it is called today, "For 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 3:1616For 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).