A short time ago there might have been seen, in a third-class carriage on one of our Scotch railways, a policeman sitting with a handcuffed prisoner by his side. The man had broken the law of the land, and was going, as fast as steam could take him, to the place where he was to suffer the punishment for his evil deed.
But stop! The passengers seem greatly interested in this man’s case, every one more or less feeling for him. Question after question is put to the policeman as to the cause of his conviction, and the severity of his sentence.
It seemed that he had been poaching in the River Tweed, close to the town where he lived; and having been caught and found guilty, he had been sentenced to pay fifty shillings or to suffer thirty days imprisonment.
“Could he not pay the fine?” the passengers asked.
No; and so he must go to prison. Presently a gentleman, an entire stranger to the prisoner, and to all in the compartment, asked whether, if the fine were now paid, the prisoner could go free.
“Certainly,” was the answer.
The gentleman then very kindly agreed to pay the fine. When the train stopped, the policeman with his prisoner and the gentleman left the train, the money was handed over to the authorities, the discharge was made out, the prisoner’s handcuffs were taken off, and he was free. Another had done for him what he could not do for himself.
He was now free to return to his home and family; one would hope with a deep sense of the fruits of sin, and of gratitude to the one who had met the demands of the law for him.
You will say, doubtless, that this was a very kind action on the part of the gentleman. It was, but let us use it to lead us to consider the matchless love of God in sending His only Son to meet us on our journey to punishment, for Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost.
However, any illustration falls far short of the reality of this love of God to man.
This poor prisoner had no claim upon the kindness of the gentleman who had thus befriended him. But the Scripture tells us that in our case it was “when we were enemies” to God that He gave His Son to die for us. (Rom. 5:1010For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (Romans 5:10).) There Was nothing in us to prompt God to love us, yet He has loved us with this infinite love.
Dear reader, do you believe this love of God?
Do you believe that God loves the sinner?
What would you have thought if this poor man had refused to allow the gentleman to pay his fine?
Surely he would have deserved to go to prison twice over if he had refused such kindness. But how are you treating God? His grace brings salvation to you. Have you accepted His mercy?
You have sinned, you have broken His law, and, do what you will, you cannot pay the debt. As fast as time can take you, you are being hurried along to suffer the terrible, endless punishment of your sin. Is it nothing to you that the blessed Son of God has died for sinners? What news is this for you that you may be saved? May you feel your need and own that you are a lost sinner, and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself as our ransom. F. McL.