On Not Being Sunk

On Not Being Sunk

I have been reading Catherine Marshall's biography of her husband, entitled A Man Called Peter: The Story of Peter Marshall. Peter was a pastor who also served as the chaplain of the United States Senate for a couple of years in the late 1940s. At one point in her book, Catherine recounts a conversation that Peter had with a friend – and it beautifully conveys the hope of the gospel. She writes: 

"One night a friend questioned him about whether he really thought we shall ever have to stand before God on a Judgment Day and hear the roll call of our sins.

"Yes, the Bible makes it quite clear," Peter answered promptly. "Some day, somewhere, somehow, there will be an accounting for each of us."

He paused and seemed lost in thought as he stirred his third cup of tea. "I think I may have to go through the agony of hearing all my sins recited in the presence of God.

"But I believe it will be like this–Jesus will come over and lay His hand across my shoulders and say to God, 'Yes, all these things are true, but I'm here to cover up for Peter. He is sorry for all his sins, and by a transaction made between us, I am now solely responsible for them.'"

Suddenly Peter smiled, "And, sister, if I'm wrong about that, I'm sunk.""

SOURCE: Catherine Marshall, A Man Called Peter: The Story of Peter Marshall. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., 1951: p. 114-115.