In the early hours of the morning, on 1 July 1916, near Thiepval Wood, France, in a concentration trench, a box of bombs was being opened for distribution. The men unloading the crates of bombs were preparing for the first day of the battle of the Somme.
But something terrible happened. The box full of bombs slipped down into the trench, which was crowded with men, and two of the safety pins fell out.
The now primed bombs would set off all the other explosives. All the men there were certain to die or be seriously wounded. There was no time to escape or throw the bombs away. There was no way they could save themselves.
Private William F. McFadzean, instantly realising the danger to his comrades, with heroic courage threw himself on top of the bombs, which exploded, blowing him to pieces, but only one other man was injured. He well knew the danger, being himself a bomber, but without a moment's hesitation he gave his life for his comrades.
Private McFadzean was awarded the Victoria Cross for most conspicuous bravery, even before the Battle of the Somme began. He has no marked grave but his name is carved on the Thiepval memorial.
His name lives on and the descendants of those men who survived will always be grateful to Billy McFadzean of the Royal Ulster Rifles.
Whether those soldiers saw the pins come out doesn’t matter. They were in danger. Death was staring them in the face. They needed a brave man to save them of his own free choice.
You and I are not in a crowded trench with two grenades about to detonate the rest. But we do face a similar situation. In fact, we face a worse situation.
There is a threat that hangs over our lives and that is the justice of God. God is perfectly just. He will not allow any wrongdoing to go unpunished. So I ask you, ‘Have you ever told a lie?’ If you have then God sees you as a liar, a law-breaker and guilty before Him. The Bible sets out God’s holy standard and the truth is we have all failed to keep his perfect law. Jesus taught that the only standard acceptable to God is perfection. He said, ‘be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.’ (Matthew 5:48). Have you loved God before all else? That’s the first commandment and which of us can say we have kept that command each and every day of our lives? Have you looked at a person to lust after them? Jesus says that makes you an adulterer of the heart (Matthew 5:28). Have you been angry with someone or called them a fool? Jesus says you are a murderer at heart and liable to hell (Matthew 5:21-22). Even if you have broken the law just once, you are guilty of breaking all of it (James 2:10). But God is rich in mercy and sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, into this world to offer his life as a sacrifice. By his crucifixion he took the punishment lawbreakers deserve. By his resurrection from the dead he proved he is able to save sinners. Billy Macfadzean laid down his life to save his friends. Jesus laid down his life so that all who believe in Him will have eternal life and not face the justice of perfect and holy God.
But you must respond. God commands you to repent and turn from your wickedness and trust in Jesus alone. God promises eternal life to all those who truly repent and trust in Christ (John 3:16)
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