A Race with Death

“The defenders of an advanced post were in imminent danger of being cut off, and a summons for help had to be sent at all costs, though it meant almost certain death to anyone who ventured across the shell-swept zone. Every unwounded man responded to the call for volunteers, and one by one the messengers faced the awful fire, only to fall before they had sped many yards. At last only one man was left. He ran the gauntlet, got through, and saved the situation.”
This is the true story of the picture on the cover this month. And what a stirring lesson for every Christian now. The bravery of the soldiers and sailors has been told by pen and picture over and over again. For King and Country they will die. On earthly tablets are emblazoned the deeds of heroes, and on the roll of honor is inscribed many a gallant name. And God wants men to live and die for Him. He wants names for the “roll of honor” in heaven. He wants men brave enough to lead a forlorn hope against sin and unrighteousness in this world. Said a soldier of God once, “We shall have all eternity to celebrate the victories, but we have only the few hours before sunset to win them.” Yes, the sunset hour is very near to some of us. God calls for volunteers today. “Who is on the Lord’s side?” A Christian sent me the following extract from a letter written about one of God’s warriors. He says: “I visited a magnificent young officer from Queensland, whose eyes have been blown out, and his right arm shot away three inches below the elbow, and his left knee shattered by a shell, but the doctors hope this last will get well again. I spent forty minutes with him; he is a modern Havelock, who prayed with his men and led them in that never-to-be-forgotten dash up Gaba Tepe. There he lay, radiant with the joy of the Lord, and he said to me, ‘I never was more happy in all my life, in spite of all my pain. I never dreamed that the Lord Jesus could give so much joy.’”
In his “race with death” he won through. God gave him his V.C.―Victorious Christian―and God will give him the victor’s crown by and bye, when his darkened eyes will see again; will see the King in His beauty in the light and joy of heaven.
And what of you who are cowards in the Christian fight, who when your Captain calls for volunteers hang back and forsake His colors? What of you who once enlisted in His army and swore to serve Him, but who are recreant in thought and word and deed? You will never win through to the golden gate; there shall be no victor’s palm for you; the heavens will be silent when you die, and the oblivion of the renegade and the traitor will be yours. God help us to be true to our Saviour and never be ashamed to own Him as our Lord.