I sat in the front part of a large room and watched a young Roman priest slowly pacing to and fro at the other end of it. I knew him to be the son of a high-ranking army officer, and his mother was noted for her piety and benevolence. From her he had received instruction which wrought deep concern about' his soul's salvation.
This scripture text had followed him through all his early years, his college life, and his later travels. Tormented by it, he at length entered "the Church,"—not to satisfy ambition, but, if possible, to find peace of soul.
His lank form—his sad face, pale and thin—his entire being—indicated suffering. Without knowing exactly why, I felt drawn to him. I remembered as if it were but yesterday the agony of my own heart before knowing eternal redemption. Thinking that perhaps he suffered from the same cause, I finally asked him: "Have you peace with God, my friend?"
"Peace with God!" he exclaimed. "What do you mean by 'peace with God?' "
"It is the effect on the sinner of the knowledge of sins forgiven, when he has by faith rested in the finished work of Christ on the cross. It is like the relief and joy that would envelop the agonized spirit of a criminal condemned to death to whom comes suddenly this message from the Governor: 'You are pardoned, fully and freely. Go forth in peace!"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."'
"Then," said he, "I have not peace with God, for I have never received such a message from Him. For nearly three years I have stayed within four walls, exercising the greatest severities against myself. I have prayed; I have fasted; I have ill-treated my body until I am reduced to what you see. But I have not yet received this message from God."
"You are a sincere man," I remarked. "You are not one of those religionists who affect a godly air and within have nothing but lust and wickedness."
"How could I be other than sincere, sir, when I know that it is with God Himself I have to do? Appearance, you know, is only for this world. Reality is for eternity. A thousand times a fool is he who sees no farther than this world. For my part, it is eternity that occupies me."
"Blessed be God! Blessed be God, my dear friend! You have been trying to fulfill in yourself God's holy law, and He has shown you the curse of the law of God against every breach of that law. According to Galatians 3:1010For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. (Galatians 3:10), `Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.' You are not a hypocrite, and you know well that you are violating this law constantly, even in spite of yourself. So you apply the curse to yourself, well knowing in your conscience that you merit it."
"That is it exactly! You have just laid bare my heart. That is my state precisely. I see the just wrath of God against me, and I must appease or escape it."
I took out my Bible and pointed to Galatians 3:1313Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (Galatians 3:13). He read: "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree."
Suddenly his languid eyes lighted up. The message of peace had come to him through the WORD!
"It is clear, quite clear," he cried. "If Christ has been made a curse for me in order to redeem me from the curse of the law, it follows that He Himself sustained that curse. He thus becomes a substitute for me."
"Exactly! A substitute—one who takes the place of another. You cannot find a better word. 'He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.' 2 Cor. 5:2121For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)."
The heart of the young priest was quite overcome. A pardon so sudden, a salvation so sure and so free, almost frightened him. He feared lest he awake to find that his anguish had been calmed only by a cruel dream—cruel because of its very sweetness.
It was not a dream. It was the truth, and it had set him at liberty, according to John 8:3232And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32): "ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." After this he gave much time to reading the Scriptures and found in them the peace and rest his soul had longed for.
My reader, are you unmoved by these things? If so, what a terrible awakening will come to you some day! Rouse yourself now while grace abounds. Accept Him who stood in your stead before a holy, righteous God and bore the judgment which was justly yours. Know the joy of sins forgiven, and enter into the enjoyment of "the peace that passeth understanding."