Friedrich Wilhelm Herschel

Many years ago in Germany a young musician named Friedrich Wilhelm Herschel played in the band of the Hanoverian Guards. His superior won him much admiration. But when war came he had to huddle in the trenches as the cannons roared all night, terror overwhelmed the young man.

One night the 19-year old couldn’t take anymore and fled the battlefield. His father sent him to England, where he became known as William. There, he became a great organist and also began to study astronomy. The years passed by.

First he rented a telescope and later was able to build his own. One evening he located what he thought might be a comet. As it turned out, William had discovered the first new planet since antiquity, the planet Uranus. Soon the world was acclaiming his discovery, and on December 7, 1781, he was elected to the Royal Society.

The very next year the King of England sent for him. As William approached the Windsor Castle for his appointment, however, a terrible dread, instead of joyous anticipation, filled him, because the King of England’s grandfather, George I, had once ruled the kingdom of Hanover.

It was that principality whose army William had served in. George III would recognize him as a deserter. As he sat in an antechamber, waiting for his audience with the king, a servant approached and presented William with an envelope. With trembling hands, he opened it.

Had his past caught up with him? Would he finally look at his long awaited condemnation?

Instead, Herschel found a full and complete pardon his act of desertion. Overjoyed, William was ushered into the presence of the King. The King told him, “Now that you are pardoned, we can talk freely, and you shall become Sir William Herschel.” When your appointment comes on that final day of reckoning, you need not tremble with fear.

You don’t have to worry about some past act of indiscretion, some terrible mistake rising up to condemn you. God has already written you full pardon. Only those who have looked to Jesus the bright and morning star as their King will stand in that day. Only His grace, only His merits, only his righteousness that day will stand in the judgment.