IT was in the days of the Iron Duke. The British Army was engaged in critical work. It was a sultry day under the blue sky of Spain. Strict orders were issued that no soldier must leave the ranks under pain of death.
The men were marching between richly laden vines on either side. One poor fellow, quite overcome with fatigue and thirst, stepped out of the ranks, cut down a bunch of grapes, and returned to his place.
His disobedience was observed, and reported to the commanding officer. Alas! the poor fellow was court-martialed and condemned to die.
A party of soldiers was told off to execute the sentence. As he was led forth to the place of execution he had still the bunch of grapes in his hand, and kept picking from it grape after grape, in an easy, careless manner.
Those who were leading him out wondered at his indifference. One of them remonstrating with him, he replied, “I’m sure I’m paying dear for them; I’m paying for them with my life.”
Yes, indeed, he was paying dear for them. But terrible as the price was he was paying, it was nothing compared to the price sinners all around us are paying for “the pleasures of sin for a season.” Men live as if there were no heaven above them, no yawning hell beneath them, no God to whom they are responsible, and to whom they must give account.
Are you one such? Have you thought of the vast eternity to which you are traveling? Has not God told us plainly in His holy Word that “the soul that sinneth, it shall die”? (Ezek. 18:44Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. (Ezekiel 18:4).) That “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment”? (Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27).)
Who will be to blame if you die in your sins? Does not the great sacrifice of Christ on the cross speak loudly to you? Remember it was for you.
Look at the “pleasures of sin.” Think of what you will pay for them. Dear indeed will be the price if it means the lake of fire for all eternity, which, indeed, will be the portion of all who reject our Lord Jesus Christ.
Are they worth paying dear for? Do they give more than passing gratification? Do they not leave an empty void? What comfort will they give on a death bed? And, above all, what of ETERNITY? WHAT OF ETERNITY? WHAT?
A. J. P.