"The Wages of Sin Is Death."

AT the N — Theater on Monday, August loth, 1896, a large audience witnessed that “sensational play,”
“The Sin of the Night.”
All went apparently well until the closing scene, when, during a fierce struggle, one man stabs another with a spring dagger. When the blade was pressed upon him, it should have gone into the handle, and the actor would then have had only to simulate death.
The “play” being over, the curtain dropped, and the house having applauded, the spectators went home apparently satisfied.
God had spoken plainly to those who were mocking Him by making light of sin and death. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Gal. 6:77Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7)), should have been sufficient to warn them against trifling with sin and death. But, heedless of all His warnings, one there has to learn in very truth that “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)). The spring refused to act, the blade entered the poor man’s breast, and instead of having to “simulate” death, he fell to the floor dying indeed.
Little thought the audience that their rejoicing was at the expense of a soul being launched into eternity.
Think you, dear reader, it was by chance that the spring refused to act? No! How long God had in patient grace borne with this daring insult I know not, but now He comes very near, and speaks so loud and clear that none need misunderstand. Should this little paper fall into the hands of “fellow-actors,” let me implore you to give heed to this solemn warning, lest you, too, be lost. Who art thou to make light of sin, and “simulate “death as though it were not a reality?
Has this no voice to you, reader? “The Sin of the Night”! Ah! Judas knows something of it (see John 13). Having steeled his heart against grace, and determined to go on in wickedness, “Satan entered into him.” Awful words! “He, then, having received the sop, went immediately out, and it was NIGHT.” Night it was, in every sense of the word. A night to his soul that will never, no, never, know the break of day. Could we but call him back for a moment, what a tale he would tell! Would he not say to you, “Beware lest He take thee away with His stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee”?
Is it nothing to you? Would it be nothing to you to be forever in the lake of fire? No ransom there! no salvation there! Beware lest thou spend eternity with Judas!
Do you ask, “What must I do to be saved”? Do! my reader. Nothing! You are too late, eighteen hundred years too late; all the work needed for your soul’s salvation was done by the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary’s cross. Death was our due; but He left that bright glory, and came down here, and went to that cross, that there He might die in our stead; that He might bear all the righteous judgment due to our sins. Was ever love like His? Listen to His words: “Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit” (John 12:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (John 12:24)). He was that blessed corn of wheat; it was not His desire that He should abide alone; but that He might have such poor sinners as you and I with Him in the glory, He went to Calvary’s cross, and died.
The cup of God’s wrath against sin had to be drunk, and that we might not drink of it forever in the lake of fire, Christ drank it on the cross.
Down, down He went, underneath all the judgment of God; all the waves and billows of His wrath rolled over Him, until all the judgment was exhausted, then with one loud shout of triumph He cried, “It is finished!”
Well might the earth quake, and the rocks be rent as He went down into death, and met and conquered him who “had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Heb. 2:1414Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; (Hebrews 2:14)).
“It is finished”! Satan has been defeated; God’s righteous claims have been fully met. God is satisfied with that blessed work, for He has raised Him up from among the dead and exalted Him to His own right hand in glory — a Prince and a Saviour (Acts 5:3131Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. (Acts 5:31)).
What think ye of Christ? I do not ask, Have you become moral and religious? for you may be this and be lost forever. But have you been converted? Are you saved? There are but two classes of people in the world — those who have believed on the Son of God, and they have ETERNAL LIFE; and those who have not believed on Him, and the wrath of God ABIDES on such (see John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)).
There is no middle course. To which class, then, do you belong? If to the first, happy is your portion. A bright cloudless morning shall soon dawn upon you; Jesus, the One who died for you, will soon come again and take you, with all the redeemed, to be forever with Himself, to sing throughout eternity that new song, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain” (Rev. 5). No cloud shall cross that summer sky! There is “no night there.”
But if you belong to the latter class, pause! think of spending eternity in torment, where all is night. Your companions will be Satan and his angels, Judas, and every sinner who has died in his sins. There to drink, and drink, and drink of that cup of wrath, but you will NEVER drain it — never exhaust its contents.
Come to the Lord Jesus Christ now, own that you are a lost sinner, rest your soul on His finished work, believe in Him, and everlasting life and joy, peace and happiness, will be yours.
A. T. P.