Rows of large mud bricks belonging to a mighty Eastern monarch were baking in the scorching midday sun. There could be no mistake as to whom the bricks belonged. Each one was marked with the seal of the king's name.
One day while the brick makers were away resting or taking their noon meal a dog silently stole into the brickyard and put one of his paws on an unbaked brick right over the king's name.
When the men returned and examined the bricks, then dry and hard, they found one brick which bore instead of the clear imprint of the king's name the unmistakable mark of a beast. The dogs of the East are dirty and diseased, and a brick bearing such a mark could never be used for the king.
When God created man He made him in His own image (Gen. 1:2727So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (Genesis 1:27)). He placed him in a garden where everything grew that was good for food and pleasant to the eye. Like the filthy dog of our story, into the garden crept the serpent and left his mark upon man. Sinful and unclean, he was no more suited to the presence of a holy God.
But Satan in the form of the serpent said, "Ye shall not surely die." Man believed Satan, disobeyed God, and brought sin and death not only upon himself but upon the whole race of man. (Rom. 5:12-1912Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. (Romans 5:12‑19).)
What became of the spoiled brick? It lay useless for many years beneath the walls of Babylon. Hundreds of years later it was unearthed. It may now be seen in the British Museum. But it still has the same despised brand upon it—the mark of a dog.
And what of guilty man? Although God knew that man under sin and death could never make himself fit for His presence, yet for many years He in His grace tested man in various ways—in innocence, without law, under law, under judges, under kings and under prophets. The mark of the serpent still remained. Mankind was proved to be lost—ruined under—sin. (Rom. 3:99What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; (Romans 3:9).)
Then God said, "I will send My beloved Son" (Luke 20:1313Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him. (Luke 20:13); Gal. 4:44But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, (Galatians 4:4)). That holy One came down and was made in the likeness of men. He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Phil. 2:7, 87But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:7‑8)). Even as by Adam's disobedience sin and death came upon man, so by Christ's obedience in going into death all who now receive HIM may be set free from sin and death, and have eternal life in Christ (Rom. 5:12, 2112Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12)
21That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:21)).
Dear reader, whose mark do you bear—the serpent's with the scars of sins unforgiven, or the blessed sign of the cross of Christ? Can you say with the Apostle Paul: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.”