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39 And one of the
malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save
thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him,
saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed
justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done
nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me
when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said
unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:39-43)
Blinded by some black shroud over the boy’s head, he could not see
the peril of his condition. Blinded by fear and shame, his recollection of
recent events were lost in the mist of confusion. The shroud was held in place
by a rope that circled the young man’s neck. There seemed to be a large knot in
the rope slightly off-center of the back of his neck – the ingenious work of
the executioner’s art designed to twist the head and snap the neck at the ropes
end. When the boy attempted to remove that shroud, he discovered that he was
helpless to do so as his hands and arms were shackled. Neither could he walk
for his feet and legs were likewise tightly fastened together. In fact, he was
helpless to do anything but stand where he had been bound – much like the thief
on the cross.
The first memories of his childhood flooded his mind. He recalled
the loving caresses of a dear mother comforting his fevered brow during some
youthful illness. His mind wandered from home to places quite distant from home
and its base of love and kindness. He had experienced early success at sports
and even scholarship having gained entrance to a prestigious university; but he
was soon disappointed with the false facade of academia. Moreover, he found
himself surrounded by others whose souls were devoid of the wholesome values of
family and polite charms.
There were voices mixed together about him.
Almost as in a dream, he heard the voice of some aged man reading
a Psalm which he had not heard in a very long time. . . . and there
arose the confused murmur of voices that seemed to surround the planks upon
which he stood that were angry and condemning. There were a few voices of pity
and compassion; but others uttered vicious cursings and condemnation. These
latter voices far outnumbered the former ones.
What could all this mean, he wondered. Only segments of the
utterances found reception in the young man's awareness: "The Lord is
my shepherd...." some tender old voice read. "Thief!"
shouted some hoarse voice ...."He maketh me to lie down in green
pastures" ..... "Murderer!" ...... "But he is
just a boy!" some feminine voice proclaims. "Guilty as mud!"
is the harsh response from some throaty fellow. "He preparest a table
before me in the presence of my enemies...."
Another clear but dispassionate voice makes a very official
observation: "It is almost time....one minute to go. No word from the
governor. Prepare for the final disposition of the prisoner.” "And
I shall dwell in the House of the Lord forever and ever. AMEN!" "My
son, may the Lord have mercy upon your soul," pronounces the kind old
voice. "But that is it!" thought the young man. "I
need MERCY!"
Thousands of thoughts and memories built to a crescendo in his
tortured mind. Thoughts of love, hope, faith, home . . . . and Gospel truths,
long forgotten that he had heard in his tender young years. Now his life
was revealed to him in its totality of ruin. There were no more excuses or
denials. Yes, he was Guilty as charged, and of far more than that with which he
was charged. He was now helpless to do anything to merit salvation. His hands
and feet were as immobile as the thief on the cross who appealed for pardon
from the suffering Christ! "Mercy, Lord. Have mercy on my soul!"
the young man silently prayed. Suddenly, the shroud was jerked from over his
head. He was surprised to see himself on some sort of pedestal elevated some
distance above the ground. His confused and terrified mind did not remember
what circumstances had brought him here. There were a multitude of cruel faces
surrounding him, looking up in hideous anticipation. But the nearest was a kind
and loving face - that of his old and weary mother standing ten feet below in
front of the gallows erected in his honor.
"You are Indeed a lucky fellow, young man!" a
finely uniformed man proclaims. "The Governor's pardon came just in the
nick of time," the man says as he removes the noose from around his
neck.
The pardon was full and complete. He was free to go to those who
loved him first, and he did. Never was he so happy, and never so light of
foot.
The coroner, properly attired in black, removed the body of a
young man from beneath the ten-foot gallows and returned it to the morgue where
it would await a pauper's burial. But the young man was no longer a pauper. He
spent that bright and beautiful morning with His Savior - and he did, indeed,
dwell in the House of the Lord forever and ever.
Do you wonder who this young man was? It was YOU! It was ME! And
every other who passes from mortality to glorious salvation in Christ – even if
at the last minute! We were, in a word, as good as dead! We were blinded by the
allurements of the world. We were fettered by wicked and unwholesome desires.
We could do not good or righteous work. It was only the GRACE and MERCY of God
that lifted the veil and loosed the fetters. Now, we are freed by that perfect
Law of Liberty which is our Lord Jesus Christ!
©
Jerry L. Ogles 2017
