CHARLES DICKENS wrote that during the
French Revolution, the French had an
enormous hatred for the aristocrats
of their country. To be an aristocrat in France
was like being a lamb in a den of wolves.

In A Tale of Two Cities, Dickens tells of a
young aristocrat named Charles Darnay who
found himself in just such a plight. He was
an emigrant to England who was tossed
in to prison when he returned to France on
business.

     Darnay's wife and father-in-law rushed
to Paris to plead for his life, but to no avail.
He was sentenced to death by the guillotine.
Finally, the day of execution arrived without
any hope in sight.

     As the last hour approached, the jailer and
Charles' old friend, Sydney Carton, appeared
at the cell door. The jailer opened the door,
and Carton stepped inside. As the door
clanged shut behind him, Carton grasped the
prisoner's hand.

     "What are you doing here?" Darnay asked.
     "No time to explain," replied his friend.
     ''Only do as I say."

     With that, Carton told Darnay to sit down
and write a note. While he wrote, Carton
managed to drug him. Quickly he exchanged
clothes with his unconscious friend. The
jailer carried Charles Darnay, dressed as
Sydney Carton, to the waiting carriage. The

carriage raced away, carrying Darnay, his
wife and child to freedom.

     Within the hour, Carton knelt at the guil-­
lotine. Later Darnay knelt on English soil to
give God thanks.

     That story reminds me of the story of my
life, for, you see, I was a sinner condemned
to eternal death. As the Bible says, "all have
sinned and come short of the glory of God"!
and, "the wages of sin is death."2

     There was not a thing I ccould do to save
myself. Then Jesus Christ stepped into the
scene. The Bible says, "when we were yet
without strength, in due time Christ died
for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous
man will one die; yet peradventure for a good
man some would even dare to die. But God
commendeth His love toward us, in that,
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for

us.

     Jesus Christ took my place. He forgave me,
and I escaped my punishment. He bore the
punishment I deserved. "Christ also hath
once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust,
that He might bring us to Cod."

     Just as Jesus took my place, He is willing
to take yours. Why not pray to Him right
now? Admit you are a sinner, worthy of eter­
nal death, and ask Jesus Christ to save you.
He's waiting to set you free. "God so loved
the world, that He gave His only begotten

Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should
not perish, but have everlasting life. For God
sent not His Son into the world to condemn
the world; but that the world through Him

might be saved."

-Len Calp
Bethany, Ontario

1 Romans 3:23

2 Romans 6:23
3 Romans 5:6-8
4 I Peter 3:18

5 John 3:16,17

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