Some years ago, in Brussels, a poor crippled girl committed some offense, for which she was sentenced to a week's imprisonment.
Her sister managed to slip into her place, was carried off to prison, and bore the week's imprisonment for her.
At the end of the week it was discovered that the real offender had not been punished. The judge refused to consider the penalty paid, and even proceeded to sentence the sister to prison for attempting to shield the guilty, and would have carried it into effect had not the people of the city interposed.
In strict justice the sentence of the law must be carried out. It may, however, in certain cases be borne by a substitute; but in that case the judge must consent to the arrangement. In this particular case no such consent had been sought; and thus the sisterly act in submitting to a week's imprisonment was in reality an offense, instead of affording satisfaction for an offense.
You and I have sinned. Sin's penalty must be carried out. Death overtaking all affords a striking proof of this. If you and I are to meet sin's penalty it will mean meeting God's two appointments. "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). Are you prepared for that? Woe be the day when death comes for the man or woman in his or her sins, unprepared for eternity!