THE MASTER

If we’re no longer under the law but under grace, are we now free to sin and disregard the Ten Commandments? Paul says, “By no means!” When we were under the law, sin was our master, for the law could not help us overcome sin. But now that we are bound to Christ, he is our Master, and he gives us power to do good rather than evil.

13. The Wages of Sin Is Death

John and Mack were “on vacation,” as they said, for the summer. They were friendly young men and very diligent in picking up “odd jobs” to help the storekeepers in the little town in which they had chosen to spend their free time.

One merchant in particular favored these “vacationers” with many such “odd jobs” and as the summer wore on, they spent much time in his store. The two young men exerted themselves to be pleasant and helpful and they soon won the confidence of their benefactor. Indeed, so much did the merchant trust them that before the end of summer he became quite confidential with them.

One night as the storekeeper was preparing to close up, he explained to his young helpers that he never left money in the safe as it could be blown open. Instead, as he showed them, he removed some boxes from an upper shelf, and placed his day’s receipts carefully in a smaller box among the merchandise. Just as carefully he replaced the merchandise and boxes, commenting smugly that “no one would think to look there.” However, one important thing he failed to mention. Just two blocks away was the police station, and connected by direct line with it was every door and window of this store. Any tampering with these openings would immediately set off an alarm at the police station.

When Saturday night approached, the young men watched the storekeeper as he, more carefully than usual, hid the bag containing his day’s receipts among the merchandise. Surely Satan, the enemy of souls was at hand to tempt the two with the prospect of “easy money,” and, having no scruples nor conscience in the matter they were taken captive of him at his will.

In the dark of that midnight these trusted friends, as the deceived merchant had called them, quietly forced open the door and as quickly as possible seized the heavy bag of money. However, to their amazement the midnight air was suddenly full of screeching sirens; and as they frantically sought to escape, they found police cars and officers blocking every exit.

Grabbing the money bag, one of the thieves raced out the back door. There a policeman spied him and gave chase. Calling to the running man, the officer ordered, “Halt!” Four times he uttered the usual command, but to no avail. The thief ran faster, trying to dodge the officer’s bullets as they whined at hand. Four times the officer called, and four times the shots rang out. One hit the target, and the dead thief was found lying face down, still gripping the money bag from which the stolen money was spilling. His partner was found, too, crouching among the merchandise that had proved to be such a poor hiding place.

In both cases, sin had claimed its wages. For one young man, a blighted life and years of imprisonment. For the slain thief, the awful doom of death. How terrible for a lost sinner to fall into the hands of the living God!

Eternal Life

A child does not begin to exist when he (or she) is born. The child has already existed for nine months prior to this in the mother’s womb. At the point of birth, only the conditions in which the child exists change. Before, he lived internally; now, he lives externally. Before, he was fed internally; now, he feeds externally. He does not begin to live at birth: he has lived all the time since conception, but conditions change at birth.

So also can the believer view death. At the point of death, the conditions of our eternal life change—but not the fact that we do indeed have eternal life.