I was walking along the railway platform for a few minutes before the train started.
My attention was drawn to a deserter from the army, handcuffed and seated between a private and a sergeant. His face betrayed great distress of mind.
The thought suddenly occurred to me:
If my Master were here, He would take his seat by the side of this man. Yes, blessed Jesus, Thy heart was too full of compassion ever to pass by a distressed sufferer.
These thoughts led me to take my seat opposite the poor man. I sat some time in silence, thinking of the mercy of God in delivering me from Sergeant Satan and the handcuffs of sin. Reader, if you are delivered, thank God. If not, then sit down with me a little and listen attentively.
The poor deserter appeared to be about forty years old. He had been a deserter many years but he had become so exceedingly that he had given himself up to the authorities. Being thus severed from those most dear to him on earth, 'and that probably forever, I found his heart was too full of sorrow to bear much conversation.
Addressing myself to the sergeant, as nearly as I can remember, this conversation took place:
"You seem to have brought your captive some distance?”
"Oh yes, sir; from beyond the border!”
"Indeed! It must be very painful to have one's hands in that bound position so far.”
"Oh yes, sir.”
The guard's heart seemed nearly as hard as the bayonet by his side.
"Well, sergeant," said I, "have you got your handcuffs off yet? Or are you still led captive by the devil? Sin will handcuff a man, and drag him along to judgment and to hell. It's sore work, Sergeant, to be dragged like that.”
"Well, sir, I'll tell you: I think a soldier will have less to answer for than anybody.
He is not tempted to rob and cheat, like the business man. Indeed, he's a good-hearted fellow, only he gets a little too much grog sometimes.”
"Ah, there you may be mistaken. I think I can show you a greater sin than drinking. I will suppose this prisoner first to have been led to enlist through the influence of drink. Granted, then, that drink has made him what he is. He may cast a look far behind him and say, 'My sin in drinking has broken the heart of my poor wife, has dragged me from my children!' " Here the tears began to run down the face of the poor deserter.
"Well, now, Sergeant, suppose an officer were to meet you on your way with him to prison. He announces that a great ransom has been paid―that the governor has sent a discharge for our friend here. Now, Sergeant, which would be the greater sin? His drunkenness that has brought all this misery on himself and his poor family? Or the hard-hearted sin of refusing to trust to the ransom purchased at so great a price?
"Oh let me tell you, sin has brought us into bondage, misery, and death. Satan has thus handcuffed man to himself. This man might sleep and dream there is no sergeant here, and no handcuffs. When he wakes up he finds it was only a dream. You are still here. Men may dream there is no devil to whom they are bound by sin, but when they truly awake, they find that this bondage is a terrible reality.
"But ah! if you knew the love of God to us poor handcuffed sinners! Even whilst we were yet sinners, God gave a great price for our ransom. Yes, 'while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.' The ransom price is paid―God has accepted it, even the precious blood of Christ. God hath raised Him from the dead, and sends a free discharge to every sinner that believes.
"Now, Sergeant, how long would it take you to unfasten the handcuffs of this poor man?”
The sergeant took out a little key, and showed me how soon it could be done.
"That little key is like faith. Yes, even so soon, the soul that believes God's testimony that on the cross the ransom has been paid that through Jesus is preached the forgiveness of sins that by Him all that believe are justified yes, even so soon that soul is free. The chains of sin and Satan are broken forever.”
The sergeant seemed never before to have heard these "words of life." And oh, how comforting it was to my heart to see the face of the poor deserter brighten up with joy! The Lord opened his ear at last to hear the gospel of the grace of God.
Reader, are you still a bond-slave of Satan, hurrying on to hell? Let me ask you, "Who can deliver you but Christ?" The handcuffed prisoner could not deliver himself. He could scarcely get his hand to his eyes to wipe off the tears. I asked the sergeant, "What officer would deny the sufficiency of a ransom which had been accepted by the governor?”
Reader, you are virtually told by those who pervert the gospel not to believe the all-sufficiency of the finished work of Christ.
But God Himself has accepted the ransom, and proved this by raising from the dead Him who offered it. Some tell you that God will not pardon your sins for Christ's sake only; that He will not give you a free discharge from the power of sin and Satan, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ alone. Oh, flee! Flee from such dreaming liars!
Say some, "Do the best you can!" Best?
There is no best in a handcuffed sinner.
"Keep the law!" when God Himself says, If that were possible, "Christ is dead in vain"? Away with such lies!
Turn to the word of God. Believe the testimony of God to the value of the blood of Christ. He is sincere. It is true that he that believeth on the Lord Jesus Christ shall be saved.
But you ask, "Are there to be no good works?" Oh yes! But are the handcuffs on or off?. That is the question. The soul that has really been delivered from the power of Satan will never forget its liberation.
"We love Him, because He first loved us.”
"God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." Believe, then; believe and live.