In the early frontier days of one of our far Western towns, a man sitting in his office heard the yelling of men and the screams of women. He also heard the clattering hooves of a runaway horse. Although he was a brilliant attorney, he was also an experienced horseman. Rushing out of his office, he saw the maddened creature tearing down the street. The man in the cart was calling frantically for help. At the risk of his own life, the lawyer flung himself at the head of that horse and grasped the dangling reins. He was dragged along the road, but he brought the horse to a standstill and saved the man’s life. The one he rescued was, of course, deeply grateful.

Years afterward a prisoner was on trial for his life. As the weeks went by, the condemned man seemed overconfident-almost disdainful of the proceedings. Then the last day came, and the jury brought in the verdict-“Guilty!” The judge turned to the prisoner and asked if there was anything he would like to say. Realizing that this was his last opportunity, he made an impassioned appeal to the judge, saying, “Don’t you know me? I thought you would recognize me. Do you remember how, many years ago, you caught a runaway horse and saved a man’s life?”

“Yes, I do,” said the judge.

“Well, I am that man. Judge, you saved me then; save me now!”

But the judge in solemn tones replied, “That day I was your savior; today I am your judge, and the jury has brought in the verdict.”

Jesus stands ready to save you now. Why not confess your sins, and send them beforehand to judgment?

By R. Allan Anderson, These Times, February 1973. With permission from Dale E. Galusha Pacific Press Ministries dalgal@pacificpress.com