political offense, both were condemned to die by the axeman’s blade. But since the two were so popular with the people th e government couldn’t find anyone to be their executioner. So a strange proposition was made to them by the evil ruler. One would have his life spared if he would be willing to be the executioner of the other. A fter much thought the proposal was accepted. In so doing, at least one’s life would be spared. The son then urged his father to accept the terms. He could die happy knowing that his parent’s life was spared. The cause would go on. But the father wouldn’t agree. He urged his son him self to perform the ghastly duties. Since he was up in years his own life would soon end. He wanted his son bravely to carry on for him. Finally, by earnest pleading and entreaty, the son consented. He would have to kill his own father. When the day of execution came throngs jam m e d the square. The scene that met the eye was grim and spine-chilling. There in th e 'center of the mob was the tradi tional scaffold, with its block and broad ax. Then the father and son w e re brought in. The elderly man silently knelt, placing his head on the block to await the fatal stroke. The son, with pale face and wild look, seized the ax, lifted it above his head, and with trembling hand was ready to bring it down. Then, in a split sec ond, he threw it away, fell to his knees by his father’s side and shout ed. “No, we die together! We die to gether/’’ The crowd, sensing the pa thos already at a high pitch, moved in upon the wicked rulers and sub dued the evil leaders. In subsequent years, sculptors cast the memorials in bronze honoring the father and his son. The Bible tells us that greater love than this has no man, than that a man lay down his life for his friend. “But God commend- eth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners (enemies, any thing but friends), Christ died for us.” 33
for what He can do in and through you. “But God commended His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Ro mans 5:8). This is a very tragic pic ture in the Word of God. Alongside of our sinfulness God placed His love. Next to our ugliness He placed His beauty. Beside our evil hearts, He placed His grace. He didn’t wait until we would choose Him. God chose us in spite of ourselves. He sent the Lord Jesus Christ to die for our sins. When we discover this fact we can sing anew, Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small, Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my life, my soul, my all. I t has been my great joy to see transformed lives which result in transformed homes. What has made the difference? The people who live inside come to the realization that Somebody cares. God enables us to live again. When we see that He really cares for us, it makes all the difference in the world. It is not what others can or cannot do for us that is the reason we become distressed and disgusted with life. When we see that God really cares for us and that He has proven His care by sending the Lord Jesus to die on the cross for us, then there comes something into our lives that makes us want to care for Him. We begin to do things for His sake because we learn to love Him. Old things pass away and all things begin to become new. This is the secret of real beauty. Life doesn’t begin at forty or at any other specific age. It starts afresh when you know the source of life it self, the Lord Jesus Christ. “This is life eternal, to know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou has sent.” AN EXAMPLE OF LOVE On one of the important bridges of Belgium, th e r e stand two bronze statues representing to countrymen the mutual love and affection of a father and son. Ages ago, because of
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