SAVIOUR OR JUDGE An account was recently given about how, on a crowded street comer, a young man was suddenly pulled back from the path of an onrushing truck. His life was saved through t h e thoughtful intervention of an inno cent bystander. When the youth had gained his voice, he thanked the rath er auspicious looking gentleman, and soon both of them were lost in the crowd. But just two weeks later in the county court house, this same young man was seated in the pris oner’s box waiting to be sentenced for the crime of murder. The judge spoke kindly but sternly and declared, “Young man, have you nothing to say before the sentence of death is passed upon you?” Although barely out of his teens his sunken eyes were lifted and he looked, as if it were for the first time, upon the face of the judge. He studied the jurist carefully. Then his countenance brightened as a fa miliarity was noted. He plead, “Why yes, Judge, yes, don’t you remember me?” A strange silence moved as a wave over the court room. The judge shook his head, “I ’m sorry son, I can not place your face.” The youth came to life seeking to explain, “Why, of course you remember me, Judge. It was just about two weeks ago, at the corner of Main and Seventh. You saved my life from that truck that was bearing down on me. Don’t you remember, now? You saved my life then, can’t you do something for me again?” The silence in the court room was painful until the man from be hind the bench solemnly responded, “Young man, I do remember you now. I t’s true, two weeks ago I saved you, but today I must be your judge.” What a picture of life and eternity. I f we fail to accept God’s remedy for sin now, and not know Him as a lov ing heavenly Father and a gracious, compassionate Saviour, then in the hereafter, we must meet Him as a righteous and holy Judge. No wonder Scripture points out the imperitive fact, “Behold now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of sal vation.” 10
Mr. Merv Fishback(right). ExecutiveAdministrator f the Arizona Bible College, meets with Mr. Ronald Brightwel, StewardshipRepresentative for Arizonand New Mexico.
scattered peasants. These men were sad, sorrowful, bitter, and disbeliev ing. That is why Jesus says in John 14:29, “And now I have told you be fore it came to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.” They resented His going away. The Fa ther’s will for Christ was not a throne, but a cross. It was not to be a brown of gold, but rather a crown of thorns. His leaving was imperative as He explains, “But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do” (verse 31). Christ did not leave them hopeless and forlorn. There was no need for them to be downhearted or bitter. He said, “And I will pray the Father and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” (John 14:16, 17). They had the assurance that they wouldn’t be orphans. In a world of turmoil and tribulation He left them His divine legacy of peace. May we rejoice in the realization that the same now dwells in us. In the world we may have our afflictions, but in the Word of God, as we look to Christ, we have that peace which passes every human understanding (verse 27).
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