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The Colonel's Word Will Stand |
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Author: H. H. S. |
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During my military service in India, in those
stirring times of mutiny and murder, I had in my regiment a
little bugler who was too weak and delicate for the life he had
to lead; but he was born in the regiment. His father had been
killed in action, and then his mother died. After his mother
died, his life was made miserable by the scoffing sneers and
jokes of the men in the regiment.
When little Willie Holt was 14 years old, the regiment was
bivouacking some miles from camp for rifle practice. I had
intended leaving the lad behind, but my sergeant-major begged
hard for me to take him along. "There is mischief in the air,
Colonel," he said, "and rough as they treat the lad, his pluck
and his patience tells on 'em; for the boy is a saint, Sir; he
is indeed."
I had a rough lot of recruits just then. Before we had been out
a fortnight, several acts of insubordination had been brought to
my notice, and I had pledged to make an example of the very next
offense by having the culprit flogged. One night the targets
were thrown down and otherwise mutilated. On investigation the
act was traced to occupants of the very tent where Willie Holt
was camped.
In vain I appealed to them to produce the man, and at last I
said, "If any one of you who slept in number four tent last
night will come forward and take his punishment like a man, the
rest will get off free; but if not, there remains no alternative
but to punish you all, each in turn to receive ten strokes of
the cat."
For the space of a couple of minutes dead silence followed; then
the slight form of Willie Holt came forward.
"Colonel," said he, "you have passed your word that if any one
of those who slept in number four tent last night comes forward
to take his punishment, the rest shall get off free. I am ready,
Sir; please, may I take it now?"
For a moment I was speechless, so utterly was I taken by
surprise; then in a fury of anger and disgust, I turned upon the
men, "Are you all cowards enough to let this lad suffer for your
sins? For that he is guiltless you know as well as I." But
sullen and silent they stood, with never a word.
Then I turned to the boy, whose pleading eyes were fixed on me,
and never in all my life have I found myself so painfully
situated. I knew my word must stand and the lad knew it, too, as
he repeated, "I am ready, Sir."
Sick at heart, I gave the order, and he was led away for
punishment. Bravely he stood with bared back, as one, two, three
strokes descended. At the fourth a faint moan escaped his white
lips; but ere the fifth fell, a hoarse cry burst from the crowd
of prisoners who had been forced to witness the scene, and with
one bound Jim Sykes-the black sheep of the regiment-seized the
cat, as with choking utterance he shouted, "Stop it, Colonel,
stop it, and tie me up instead. He never did it, but I did!" and
with convulsed and anguished face he flung his arms around the
boy.
Fainting and almost speechless, Willie lifted his eyes to the
man's face and smiled such a smile! "No, Jim," he whispered,
"you are safe now, the Colonel's word will stand." Then his head
fell forward-he had fainted.
The next day I visited the hospital tent where the boy lay
dying. The shock had been too much for his feeble strength. He
lay propped up on the pillows; and at his side, half kneeling,
half crouching, was Jim Sykes. I saw the drops of sweat standing
on his brow as he muttered brokenly, "Why did you do it, lad?
Why did you do it?"
"Because I wanted to take it for you, Jim," Willie's weak voice
answered tenderly. "I thought it might help you to understand
why Christ died for you."
"Christ died for me?" the man repeated.
"Yes, He died for you because He loves you. I love you, Jim, but
Christ loves you much more. I only suffered for one sin, but
Christ took the punishment for all the sins you have ever
committed. The penalty was death, Jim, and Christ died for you."
"Christ has naught to do with such as me, lad; I'm one of the
bad 'uns; you ought to know." "But He died to save bad ones,"
answered Willie. "After you have sinned against Him He loves you
so much that He came all the way from heaven, and suffered and
died in your place, and now He is calling you. He wants to
cleanse you from every stain of sin and make you fit for His
presence. He wants you to live with Him in glory. He was wounded
for your transgressions, He was bruised for your iniquities, the
chastisement of your peace was upon Him; God laid your sins all
on Him. How can you resist such love as that? Dear Jim, listen!
'God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us.' 'His own self bare our sins in His
own body on the tree.' 'He suffered for sins, the Just for the
unjust, that He might bring us to God.' But you can never enter
heaven, Jim, unless you let Him cleanse you from all sin in His
own blood. Nothing can ever enter there that is not just as pure
and as perfect as He is. You must have a garment of spotless
purity in which to enter the presence of God or you will be cast
out of His presence into everlasting darkness and despair
forever. The Lord Jesus is God's righteousness which He will
give you the moment you are willing to receive Him. He says, 'He
that heareth my Word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath
everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is
passed from death unto life.' Won't you receive Him now?"
The lad's voice failed him, but he laid his hand gently on the
man's bowed head.
After a little while we saw a strange light in his dying eyes,
and with a happy cry he flung out his hands as if in welcome.
Then gradually the weak arms dropped: the light faded from the
shining eyes; and his spirit passed from earth to heaven.
THE SINNER'S FRIEND
The Scripture tells us that "Christ died for the ungodly."
Blessed fact! It will fill eternity with praise. It is the
foundation of all blessing and godliness. The love of Christ is
unfathomable. When none else could save, and nothing less than
His death (even the death of the cross) was needed, He willingly
died in our stead-"He poured out His soul unto death."
Unparalleled kindness! The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour
of the world, and the beloved Son infinitely glorified the
Father in redeeming us from all iniquity. He said, "Therefore
doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might
take it again." (John 10:17). God's love was manifested in not
sparing His own Son, but delivering Him up for us all; and
Christ's, the Good Shepherd, in giving His life for the sheep.
The Prince of Life tasted death. His soul was made an offering
for sin; He bore our sin in His own body on the tree. The Holy
One was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness
of God in Him. Is it any marvel, then, that He cried out, "My
God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
Nothing is more plainly taught in the Scriptures than the
necessity of Christ's death for our redemption. Every saved
person knows this. Our Lord told Nicodemus that the Son of Man
must be lifted up. He also said, "The bread that I will give is
my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world," and,
"Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth
alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." How
blessed, then is the divine fact that "Christ died for the
ungodly!" He is the sinner's Friend, because He was the sinner's
Saviour. Praise God.
But though Christ, the bearer of our sins, died, it was not
possible that He should be holden of death. His flesh saw no
corruption. Having purged our sins, God raised Him from the
dead, and crowned Him with glory at His own right hand in the
heavens.
Reader, is the death of Christ nothing to you? Have you taken
refuge in Him, now risen and ascended, as the only hope set
before you? How can you possibly escape the coming wrath if you
neglect this great salvation? |
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Printed By: Faith Publishing House,
P.O. Box 518, Guthrie, OK 73044 |
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