SHAME MADE ASHAMED! The first century Greek author Arrian of Nicomedia describes an extraordinary event in the life of Alexander the Great − (Alexander ) thought this was a suitable opportunity to settle the debts of the army, and ordered a list of individual debts to be drawn up, with a promise to pay them. At first, few put down their names; they feared Alexander was testing them to find out who thought the soldier’s pay insufficient and who was living above his means. When it was reported that the majority would not put their names down, but concealed any bonds they had, he condemned the soldiers’ lack of trust. A king should not say anything but the truth to his subjects, and they must not imagine their king to be saying anything but the truth to them. So he had tables set up in the camp with gold on them, and men charged with the distribution of money to anyone who could show a bond, and he ordered the debts to be settled but without now drawing up a list of names. In this way they were convinced that Alexander was speaking the truth, and their pleasure at not being individually identified was even greater than their satisfaction at seeing their debts paid off. It is said that up to 20,000 talents were distributed to the army on that occasion. Now that is a fine parable of the relationship that many Christians have with their Commander. They cannot bring themselves to trust his promise of complete remission of their sins. Or, like the soldiers of Alexander, they are too ashamed to admit how foolish they have been, or how irresponsible to incur debts they could neither pay nor escape. Alexander was rightly angry about their reluctance to believe what he had promised. Was he not a king? How could they imagine that he would ever speak less than the truth to them? Nonetheless, he graciously reinforced his word by setting up in front of them tables loaded with gold coins from his personal treasury. Then his clerks urged the soldiers to present their bills to be paid in full. So they came, at first in a trickle, which quickly became a flood of eager men, whose debts were all paid in full without question. How much more to be trusted is the word of the King of kings! No matter how ashamed you are, cast it aside! Be chained down by guilt no longer, but present your debt and it will be entirely remitted, not by silver and gold that perish, but “but by the precious blood of Christ” (1 Pe 1:18-19) that will retain its efficacy for ever! internetbiblecollege/index.html
Posted on: Sun, 24 Nov 2013 09:30:24 +0000
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