The boy thought he could live by his own rules and be happy. So, instead of serving his time as a soldier during the Civil War, he left the military without permission. He was caught and convicted of desertion. He then faced a sentence of death before a firing squad at Davenport Barracks, Iowa.
One winter night, as the minutes passed before his scheduled execution, someone intervened on the boy’s behalf. Indiana Congressman Schuyler Colfax went to the White House to plead for him. The congressman told the boy’s story to President Abraham Lincoln.
The president listened patiently, and said, “Some of my generals complain that I impair discipline by my frequent pardons and reprieves, but it rests me, after a day’s hard work, that I can find some excuse for saving some poor fellow’s life, and I shall go to bed happy tonight as I think how joyous the signing of this name will make himself, his family and friends.”
Even though the boy was guilty, he escaped the punishment of the firing squad. He lived because somebody cared. Somebody cared enough to intervene on his behalf, and somebody cared enough to give him a second chance.
Like the young soldier in this story, we sometimes think we can live by our own rules and be happy. We expect to live the way we want without any consequences. But according to the Bible, we are all guilty in the sight of God. We are guilty of sin. “The Scripture [has] concluded all under sin” (Galatians 3:2222But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. (Galatians 3:22)). Like deserters, we have tried to run away from God and live outside His family. “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)).
Because of our sin, we face something that is far worse than a firing squad. We face eternal punishment. “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)). Those who die in their sins without God’s forgiveness will not be listed in God’s book of life. “Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:1515And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)).
Thankfully, somebody cared for us and stepped in to save us. “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:88But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)). God doesn’t want us to die in our sins. “The Lord is ... not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). He wants to remove our guilt and give us a pardon. The Bible says, “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)).
Have you responded to God’s love for you? Have you accepted His forgiveness and His free gift of everlasting life? If not, you can do so today and escape punishment. God stands ready, right now, to remove your guilt and give you a new life. These wonderful blessings are yours for the asking. As the Bible says, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:1313For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13)).