Who Can Pay So Much? Oswald J. Smith

The Russian Czar used to love to disguise himself and mingle with his subjects to hear what they might have to say. One night he visited the barracks and listened to the conversation of the soldiers. While passing a tent, he observed a young officer sitting at a table with his head on his arm, sound asleep. The Czar tiptoed to the back of the chair and looked over his shoulder. There on the table before him, he saw, to his amazement, a loaded revolver. Beside the revolver was a sheet of paper.

The paper contained a list of gambling debts. The Czar, about to turn away, suddenly saw that there was something written below the column of figures. Stepping closer, he read the words: “Who can pay so much?”

The young officer had gambled away everything he had. He was deeply in debt and saw no way out, hence his decision to end his life. But, after writing those words, he had fallen asleep. Soon he would awaken, and then...

The Czar at first decided to report him. Then, remembering that he was a friend of the young man’s father, he changed his decision.

Taking up the pen that had fallen from the hand of the young officer and dipping it in the ink, he looked again for a moment at the question: “Who can pay so much?”

Then, stooping over, he wrote one word underneath—”Nicolas.”

Quickly, he turned away. The young officer, unpredictably disturbed, picked up the revolver and solemnly raised it to his brow. But just before pulling the trigger, he glanced at the paper once more and saw what he had written: “Who can pay so much?”

Suddenly, he bent nearer. There was another word on the paper. He read it— “Nicolas.”

In amazement, he dropped the revolver from his hand. He had recognized the handwriting. His Czar had been there. With great joy, he read again the writing: “Who can pay so much? Nicolas.”

The next morning, sure enough, a messenger came with a bag of money from the Czar. The young man’s life was saved.

Friend, you too have accumulated a debt, a debt that you can never hope to pay—a debt of sin. And when you realize it, you too will cry: “Who can pay so much?” The answer is, “JESUS!” - Y.P.D.