by Al Lacy
“Hmm?”
“I just thought of something.”
“Yes?”
“Maybe the Lord arranged your arrest and all of this so you could give the gospel to Jubal and lead him to Jesus.”
A tiny sparkle lit up Dane’s dark brown eyes. “Yes. That might just be it. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll see you soon.”
When Dane returned to the cell, he sat down on his bunk facing Jubal, who was now in a sitting position on his own bunk. Jubal said, “Your adopted sister, eh? You told me your little brother and sister were killed by the street gang at the same time they killed your parents.”
“Those were my real brother and sister. The girl who just came to see me lives in the street colony that I’m from. Long story … but we sort of adopted each other as brother and sister.”
“Oh.”
“Jubal, will you let me show you those Scriptures that my pastor wrote down for you?”
“It ain’t gonna do any good.”
“Maybe you’re wrong about that. Can I show them to you?”
Jubal shrugged. “If it’ll make you feel better.”
Dane picked up his Bible, carried it and the slip of paper across the narrow cell, and sat down beside Jubal. “Let’s just take a look.”
The first passage Pastor Wheeler had written down was Romans 5:6–8. Praying in his heart for wisdom from God, Dane turned to it, and read the verses silently to himself. “Okay, read verses six, seven, and eight to me, Jubal.”
Jubal frowned. “If you say so. ‘For 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.’”
“Jubal?”
“Hmm?”
“Does it say that Christ died for certain kinds of sinners, but not for other kinds? You know, that He only died for those sinners who never murdered anyone? Or does it just say that He died for sinners?”
“It says He died for sinners.”
“That would be any sinners then, wouldn’t it?”
Jubal shrugged, but did not reply.
“It also says He died for the ungodly. Are murderers ungodly?”
“Yeah.”
“Then that would include you, wouldn’t it?”
Jubal did not answer.
“You’re smart enough to know the answer to that. Let me show you another one.
This time, Dane turned to Proverbs 28:13, read it silently, then said, “Okay. Read verse thirteen to me.”
Jubal licked his lips nervously. “‘He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.’”
“All right. Does it say that people who confess their sins and forsake them shall have mercy, except for murderers?”
“I guess not.”
“What do you mean you guess not?”
Jubal drew a deep breath and let it out through his nostrils. “It just ain’t gonna work for me, kid. God doesn’t want anything to do with me.”
Dane frowned. “What makes you think so?”
“I just know it.”
“Let’s look at another one.”
Dane turned to Titus 2:13–14 and read it silently. “Here. Read verses thirteen and fourteen to me.”
Jubal licked his lips again. “‘Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.’”
“Okay. This part.” Dane put his finger below eight words in verse 14, and read them aloud: “‘That he might redeem us from all iniquity.’ Jubal, is murder iniquity?”
Jubal nodded. “Yeah.”
“Well, doesn’t it say that Jesus gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity?”
“Yeah. It says that.”
“Then wouldn’t that include murder?”
Jubal put his head down and rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t know, kid. Like I said, God doesn’t want anything to do with me.”
“That’s not true. Let’s read some more verses.”
Pastor Wheeler had written down four more passages that dealt with sin and God’s forgiveness. Dane saw that the next subject was hell, so he proceeded to have Jubal read the four passages to him. Still Jubal would not concede that any of these Scriptures applied to him and his sin of murder.
Still praying in his heart for wisdom, Dane had him read four passages that centered on hell and its horrors. When they had covered the fourth one, Jubal said, “That’s all, kid. I don’t want to read any more.”
“All right. We’ve read all of them that Pastor Wheeler gave me to show you. Jubal, the passages I gave you yesterday that spoke of repentance and salvation leave no doubt that if a sinner repents and receives Jesus into his heart as personal Saviour, that he will be saved. These Scriptures that we have just read also leave no doubt that God is willing to forgive all sins if the sinner will call on Him in repentance and ask for forgiveness and salvation. The ones we read about hell make it clear that hell is eternal fire; that people who go there will burn forever with no opportunity of escape. You told me when we talked yesterday that you’re going to die at the end of that rope Saturday and go to hell. After what we’ve just read, do you really want to go to hell?”
Jubal rose to his feet, rubbing a palm over his face. “I—I don’t want to talk about it anymore. I just don’t believe God can forgive me.”
Dane’s heart was heavy. His only hope was that tomorrow Pastor Wheeler would be able to handle Jubal better and convince him to open his heart to Jesus.
That night in the darkness of the cell, Dane lay on his bunk and prayed silently that the Lord would drive His Word deep into Jubal’s heart so Pastor Wheeler could lead him to Jesus. Jubal had two days left.
On Thursday morning, a guard came and told Dane he had a visitor.
When Dane arrived at the visiting room, he was glad to see his pastor. When Wheeler inquired how it had gone with Jubal and Dane told him, Wheeler turned and asked a guard if he could have some time with Jubal Packer.
The guard said he would take Dane back to the cell and tell Packer that the preacher wanted to see him.
The guard returned shortly, and informed Wheeler that Packer had refused to see him. His own heart heavy, Wheeler asked if he could have a few more minutes with Dane.
When Dane returned, the pastor told him since Jubal refused to see him, it would be up to Dane to keep trying. Disappointed that Jubal would not talk to the pastor, Dane assured him he would keep trying and asked that Pastor Wheeler pray for him. He would need special help from the Lord. Wheeler assured him he would and reminded him that God was not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. They prayed together with the pastor leading.
Just as Pastor Wheeler was leaving, a guard brought in Dr. Lee Harris, saying he wanted to see Dane too. The pastor and the doctor shook hands, and the pastor left.
When Dr. Harris sat down and looked at Dane through the barred window, Dane told him the whole story about Jubal, and how he had dealt with him from the Scripture about being saved, but Jubal had turned a deaf ear. He explained that Jubal had also refused to see Pastor Wheeler just now.
Dr. Harris asked if Dane thought he might talk to him, since he was not a preacher. Dane told him it was worth a try, and asked the guard in charge of the visiting room if he would take him back to the cell so he could see if Jubal would let Dr. Harris talk to him.
The doctor waited while Dane and the guard were gone, and a few minutes later, they returned with Dane telling him that Jubal also refused to see him.
Dr. Harris told him that he and Maude would be praying that the Lord would work in Jubal’s heart in such a manner that he would see that there indeed was f
orgiveness and salvation for him, as well as for all sinners, and draw him unto Himself.
That evening Dane tried to talk to Jubal again, but met the same resistance. Dane warned him solemnly about the never-ending torment in the flames of the lake of fire, but still Jubal refused to open his heart to Jesus.
Once again, lying on his bunk in the darkness, Dane silently prayed for his cell mate. He asked the Lord to let Jubal have no rest tonight, and to make the Scriptures burn in his heart like He had when Dr. Harris had dealt with him.
As Dane was getting drowsy, he was aware that Jubal was tossing and turning on his bunk. This went on for some time, then Dane finally fell asleep praying.
When Friday morning came, Dane awakened just after dawn. He could tell by looking at Jubal as they were dressing that he had hardly slept, if at all.
“You don’t look like you got any sleep.” Dane said, setting his concerned gaze on Jubal. “You were awfully restless last night. You were still tossing and turning when I finally dropped off.”
Jubal ran his fingers through his thick mop of sand-colored hair, sighed, and set his bloodshot eyes on his friend. He gave a little self-conscious shiver, and his face went deathly white.
“I’ll be honest with you, Dane. I didn’t sleep at all. I—I couldn’t get all those Scriptures you showed me out of my mind. I thought about those horrible things the Bible says about hell. And those verses about sin and forgiveness that you tried to get me to admit that made it clear that even a murderer can be forgiven and saved if he will repent and receive God’s Son as his Saviour.
“I kept picturing Jesus hanging on the cross and dying for me, then some fearful picture of hell would flash into my mind, followed by another glimpse of Jesus shedding His blood and dying on the cross.”
Dane nodded. Thank You, Lord!
Jubal drew a shuddering breath, his face still pale. “Dane, you remember I said God doesn’t want anything to do with me?”
“Yes. More than once.”
“Yeah. Well, to be honest, I didn’t want anything to do with God. I’ve been so wrong, Dane. God gave his Son to die for me on the cross, and I’ve been rebellious and ungrateful toward Him.”
Dane’s face was beaming.
Tears welled up in Jubal’s eyes. “Dane, I can’t face the gallows tomorrow morning in my lost condition. Will you show me how to call on Jesus and be saved?”
Dane’s heart was pounding with joy. “I sure will!” He picked up his Bible. “Let’s sit down.”
They sat down together on Jubal’s bunk, and opening the Bible, Dane went over the gospel with him once more to make sure he understood. By this time, Jubal’s eyes were spilling tears, and Dane had the joy of leading his cell mate to Jesus.
When Jubal finished his prayer of faith and repentance, he wrapped his arms around Dane, and with tears still flowing, he thanked him for caring enough about him to share the gospel with him. Jubal was so ecstatic about his salvation, it was all he could do to keep from shouting. He repeatedly thanked Dane for caring about his lost soul and rejoiced in the peace that was flooding his heart.
Prisoners in the cell block were gawking toward Jubal’s cell.
Gripping Dane’s upper arms, Jubal said, “Will you please tell Pastor Wheeler and your doctor friend that I apologize for not letting them talk to me?”
“Sure. They’ll just be glad to hear that you’ve been saved. So will my little adopted sister. She and the whole colony have been praying that you would come to Jesus.”
“Thank them for me, will you?”
“I sure will.”
They heard the big steel door open and knew the guards had come to escort the prisoners to the mess hall for breakfast; a luxury the prisoners in the jail section did not enjoy.
When all the prisoners on that floor had been escorted to the mess hall, gone through the food line, and been seated, some of the convicts who had heard Jubal’s jubilant words in the cell block began to mock him about his new religion.
Those at the same table whose cells were adjacent to that of Jubal and Dane ridiculed both of them, calling them religious fanatics.
Dane smiled at them. “We have salvation, gentlemen. Not religion.”
“Right,” said Jubal. “You guys can call Dane and me what you want, but let me tell you something. I’m going to hang tomorrow morning for my crime, but I know—based on the Bible—that I’ve been forgiven by Almighty God for the murder I committed and for all my other sins because I received Jesus Christ as my Saviour this morning. And I know I’ll already be in heaven when they take my body down from the gallows. How about you guys? Can you tell me that you know you’ll go to heaven when you die?”
They looked at him for a few seconds, then went back to their meals in silence.
That afternoon Dane was visited by Tharyn again. She rejoiced when Dane told her of Jubal’s salvation and his strong testimony to the convicts who were making fun of him at breakfast. Tharyn told him everyone in the colony would be thrilled. She also told him that Russell was going to come on his own and see him tomorrow afternoon. At the moment, he was in the waiting room, and they needed to get to the street corner to do some more begging right away.
Dane told her to tell Russell he would look forward to seeing him tomorrow.
That night in the cell when the lanterns in the cell block had been doused, Dane and Jubal knelt beside Dane’s bunk and prayed together. Dane was amazed at the peace his friend displayed.
When they had finished praying, and rose from their knees, Jubal reached out in the dark and laid a hand on Dane’s shoulder.
“Dane, remember when you showed me Romans 8:28 and said the Lord had a purpose for you being falsely accused of the murder of Benny Jackson so you could be locked up in this prison?”
“Yes, and I know what you’re going to say. Tharyn—my little adopted sister—suggested the same thing when she was here Wednesday. God’s purpose for me being locked up in this prison and placed into this cell with you was to bring you to the Lord.”
“That is exactly right. If you hadn’t become my cell mate, I would have died lost and gone to hell. I’m sure, Dane, that the Lord will clear you of the crime so you can go on to pursue your career as a doctor.”
Encouraged by this, Dane said, “I know it will happen when it’s God’s time for me to be released. Do you think you’ll be able to sleep tonight?”
“I believe so. The Lord has given me such peace inside.”
“Good. We’d better turn in, then.”
The next morning at dawn, both Jubal and Dane were awake. As they were dressing, Dane said, “Jubal, there is one other Scripture verse I want to show you before—before the guards come to take you.”
“All right.”
Dane picked up his Bible and opened it to the Psalm 23. “Pastor Wheeler preached on this not long ago, and I’d like to share it with you.”
“Sure.”
At that moment, they heard the big steel door come open down the corridor. Both looked to see two guards coming toward the cell.
Jubal’s heart quickened pace.
Both of them knew the names of the guards. As they drew up, Dane said to guard Hank Overton, “Mr. Overton, could I have just a couple of minutes to show Jubal something in the Bible before you take him?”
“Okay, but only a couple of minutes. The hangman is ready, and he’s an impatient sort.”
Dane nodded, then held the Bible in front of Jubal. “Look here at verse 4 in Psalm 23. David, a saved man, says to the Lord, ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.’ Will you take note, Jubal, that David does not call it the valley of death? He calls it the valley of the shadow of death. Pastor Wheeler pointed out in his sermon that for the lost person, it is indeed the valley of death. Total darkness. No light. But he showed us in Scripture that Jesus is the Light. And when a saved person dies, the Shepherd, Jesus Christ, is with him. So t
here is light. That’s what it takes to make a shadow, isn’t it? Light?”
Jubal nodded. “Yes. There can’t be a shadow unless there is light.”
“David said he would not fear because the Shepherd would be with him. David’s Shepherd is also your Shepherd, Jubal. And he said he would be comforted when he died. You will too, my dear brother in Christ.”
Tears filmed Jubal’s eyes. “Yes. I know I will.”
“Pastor Wheeler also pointed out something else here.”
“Dane,” said the other guard, “you said a couple of minutes. You’re already past that.”
“Just one more minute, please.”
“All right. Hurry.”
Dane pointed to verse 6 in the same psalm. “Look here, Jubal. David tells us where saved people go when they die. ‘I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.’ That’s heaven, Jubal. Heaven! That’s where you will be in—well, just a little while.”
Jubal nodded and wiped tears from his cheeks. “And because you cared about me and showed me how to be saved, I’ll meet you there someday.”
“You sure will.”
Jubal hugged Dane, then turned to the guards. “Okay. I’m ready. Let’s go.”
The man who was headed for the gallows walked away with the guards. When they reached the steel door, and the guards were opening it, Jubal looked back to see Dane with his face pressed to the barred door, looking at him. He waved and Dane waved back.
Dane was tense as he stood at the cell door for several minutes after Jubal had vanished from sight, then finally turned and sat down on his bunk.
He tried to imagine what was happening at the gallows that stood at the rear of the building.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Lord, please continue to give Jubal peace as he faces the noose.”
Chapter Fifteen
Dane Weston was still sitting on his bunk almost an hour later when he heard the door open and saw the normal group of guards enter, who would be escorting the prisoners on that floor to the mess hall for breakfast.