The next afternoon when Grandma was serving up a snack to Josh, she exclaimed, “I’m going to have to hurry up with that story, Josh. Your Dad’s phone call last night reminded me they’ll be home before long. Have you minded hearing it ‒ maybe liked it ‒ some?” she asked her oldest grandson as he sipped a cool drink and eyed some hot nachos bubbling with cheese.
“Not bad at all. I didn’t see how us boys would want to hear about some old-fashioned sixteen year‒old girl, but I see why you thought it would be good, Grandma. I guess we need something to stir us up.”
“You are fourth-generation Christians, Josh. It’s all been handed to you ‒ all the truth ‒ and you’ve been sheltered. This is a great blessing, but—some of your generation may let it all slip away ‒ ‘sell out.’ The Lord is coming soon and it’s not long to hold fast. But you’ve got to really grasp it and make it your very own. If you do, the Lord can keep you just as He did those before us. To be faithful in the closing days will be especially precious to the Lord, I think.”
That evening before the chapter was begun, Crystal remarked, “It’s really nice to hear about those girls. They were ‒ well ‒ not ordinary like us. We can’t go off to India or sing beautifully to college boys. Wasn’t the Lord especially wanting them for Him?”
“Why can’t we go to India ‒ or Africa ‒ or wherever?” Ginger waved her hands, “Maybe I will someday!”
“You!” laughed Mark. “What’s that word, Grandma? Consecration? That’s what you’ve got to have!”
“You are forgetting about Annie, children,” Grandma laughed. “She didn’t go anywhere too special that I know of. The Lord loves ‘ordinary’ people. In fact, He told that poor woman at Sychar’s well that He was seeking something. Anybody remember what?”
“Well, He wanted a drink,” Crystal offered.
“The chance to tell her Mount Ger‒a‒a‒zim wasn’t where to worship?” This from Josh.
“Worship—you’re getting closer.” Grandma coached. “I’m a bit disappointed to have to tell you. ‘The Father seeketh worshippers,’ He told that poor worse-than-ordinary woman, and set about to win her heart for it. What do you think He might want from you and me—we who know the whole wonderful story of His love? We ought to ask ourselves, ‘Have I ever really worshiped Him in Spirit and in Truth?’ "
“Well, Annie had much to learn, so we’d best get along with her story.” Picking up the book, she resumed reading:
The time for graduations had come. We attended the Albert College affair enthusiastically, especially since “our girls” were to take first and second honors. My high school days were also finished. Something else was well over also—my two weeks’ trial time. Father predicted that my Christianity would last no longer than that. Remember? “Just another freak” had proven to be a reality. How I missed my Curtsie and Hortense, for they left soon after the exercises for their homes and futures.
“I will get a new Bible and really get acquainted with it this summer. When I begin Albert College in the fall, there will not be so much time.” I told myself.
A little paper called “The Believer’s Pathway” was put into my hands about this time. I can still remember and often repeat some of the lessons. “Keep short accounts with God; do not wait until night to sum up all the failures and shortcomings and sins of the day—confess at once; confess your faults one to another—don’t wait; confess your sins to God. Do it quickly. Be the first to accuse yourself before God. Don’t give Satan, the Accuser of the brethren, the first chance.” These were some of the things I learned.
Somewhat to my surprise and pleasure, too, that summer, I learned that my tastes had changed. Once eager to learn to play a certain waltz well, I found I had lost that attraction for it and chose a hymn instead.
“Well! You are changed.” My teacher marveled. I also found that my insatiable taste for novel reading was greatly lessened. A certain still, small voice ‒ His voice ‒ controlled me.
Since I attended the Bible readings regularly, I was helped even more in my pathway. Private reading at home was stressed and I established the habit of always having a Bible open on my dresser. I could always get a “taste” at least now and then until there was time for more. Had He not said, “Oh taste and see that the Lord is good”? A daily calendar called “My portion” was my very first “taste” for the day, as I always tore off the verse and digested it directly. Many times it was a guide for the entire day.
Mother and I had many discussions. She could not give up her idea of “enduring to the end,” never sure of her salvation. I could not give an inch on the precious truth that I was safe for eternity. Then one day I came home all aglow and full of 1 Thessalonians 4:1616For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (1 Thessalonians 4:16): “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” My dear parents and sister looked at me as if I were surely insane.
“Oh, Annie! you don’t expect that to happen literally,” Mother soothed. “We know our Lord comes for us in death, dear, but I have never been taught such a thing as an appearing in the sky and all that.”
“But, Mother, ‒ it says ‘We which are alive.’ We don’t all die.” Father put his fist down impatiently. “You listen to me. Now there were some peculiar fanatics some years ago who thought that. They dressed up in white, sold all their possessions and went up on a hill to meet Him. They sang and prayed, prayed and sang, but He didn’t come. They were a disappointed lot ‒ made fools of themselves.”
“Well! of course they were foolish. The Bible distinctly says, ‘Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour.’ Anyway, they weren’t told by the Lord in the Bible to sell everything and dress in white. When He comes ‘the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.’ " I wanted to say it over and over.
My father just looked at me. “Now, Annie, do not talk about it, or say such things. People will think you are off in the head.” He rarely let himself be troubled much about things religious, but today he seemed upset and concerned.
“Well,” I replied, “Surely those who believe God’s Word are not the crazy ones!”
I would not be deprived of this joy. Jesus my Lord was coming again! Coming in the air. Coming in the clouds! The dead were to be raised! The living would be caught up to be with the Lord forever! We were to comfort one another with these words! I looked out of my window at the billowy white clouds and wondered, “Will it be before morning?” Yes, oh yes, I’ll watch and wait! The more I read the Scriptures, the more I found about this second coming. Strange I hadn’t seen it before!
My ideas, gleaned I suppose, more or less, from bits and pieces of church sermons and my own people’s thoughts, were certainly confused regarding the future. I had always assumed that it was essential to convert the world to get it to be a fit place for the Lord to come and reign. There was to be a general judgment some day where our destinies (heaven or hell) would be decided and that the “balances” would show whether there were more good deeds than bad. Scriptures were certainly changing my old concepts. There was much I still did not understand, but one thing I was sure of: “This same Jesus... shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:1111Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:11). He left in a cloud and He’ll come in the clouds. The dead will be raised first.
Why had I never heard these words at a funeral? The Apostle definitely says, “Comfort one another with these words.” He went on to say that this hope has a purifying effect. Surely it should; if I am to see my Lord face to face at any moment, I would want to clean up my life. This brought to my mind the Lord’s own parting words to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. This seemed to be the Church’s one business. Surely there is no escaping it! Each and all may reach at least one. I did not want to miss a single one of my opportunities, for I recalled at this time an incident in my precious Kept for the Master’s Use book. A group of young ladies were spending the evening with Miss Havergal in music and singing. There was one girl who had come, longing to have Frances tell her of Jesus. She had kept close to her side, hoping, but no words were spoken to meet her need. Miss Havergal had been very tired and just felt ‒ “Well, cannot one have a day off? Must one always be on duty?”
Later, though now happily saved, this dear woman lay on a bed of illness. Her beloved friend Frances H visited her. “Oh, Miss Havergal! Did you know that I ought to have been yours? When I was in your home that first night, I wanted so much for you to tell me of Jesus!” The Lord had used another, for He would never disappoint a seeking sinner.
I went to bed that night, disappointed in my family’s reception of these grand truths, but confident in my Lord’s words to me, His very own child. He would never disappoint me.
“End of chapter, children. Can you just imagine hearing of the Lord’s coming for the first time? You see how much you have and know that she had to dig for? She had to brave her parents’ disapproval, (even her father’s scorn), but her high esteem for the Word of God carried her on. The thing that worries me with this generation is ‒ are we going to hold on to all this treasure? In the first place, it has to be esteemed as treasure ‒ believed ‒ valued ‒ and acted upon. Right? Otherwise ‒.”
The children sat thoughtful and quiet. In a moment Crystal said, “Yes, Grandma. You know it seems that we used to be more ready to tell the gospel to other children. We did some awfully dumb things, though. Ginger, remember that little German girl at school? We really gave the gospel to her. She listened too, and wanted to be saved. We kneeled down and told her to ask the Lord Jesus to wash her sins away and that she must believe in Him and that He would do it. She did just what we told her to do."
"Yes, of course I remember. Then she asked us, 'Now what do I do?' We didn't quite know what to say—Read the Bible. Don't watch T.V. and then—"
"I know it was stupid, but I just tried to think how we did. So I said, 'And you aren't supposed to wear pants to school all the time. Oh yes—and you're supposed to go to meeting.'"
"And she said, 'What's meeting?' We had her all confused and half scared of our rules," sighed Ginger.
"As I remember your Mother telling me about it, wasn't the mother's English so scant that you couldn't communicate very well? She lived a distance away, too. Well, the Lord knew your hearts and your desire. If she was truly saved, the Lord will see her through. Speaking of scaring people—Josh, do you remember your small friend David?"
"Oh, just barely. I tried to get him converted, didn't I?" responded Josh.
"Yes, he was maybe four years old and you were about five. You waited until your Daddy came home in the evening. Then you herded him in saying something like, 'Now, David, it's time you heard about the Lord. I know you don't know my Daddy, but—Oh don't be scared (pat, pat). now don't cry—we just don't want you to go to hell with the Devil.'
"Poor David's eyes opened wide at your big, tall Daddy and then looked around wildly for the closest exit. You kept patting him and saying, 'We just don't want you to go to hell!' He ran home crying and told his Mamma you said he was going to hell. She thought you'd been swearing at him."
"I still miss the old neighborhood," sighed Mark. '"Member good ole Steve, Josh?"
"Now there you had better success!" laughed Crystal. "He said he had accepted the Lord and he used to come quite a bit to Sunday School and treats."
"Wasn't he the one who rebuked those boys who were making fun of you for being Christians?"
"Yes, Grandma." And Josh took up the story. "They were following us, acting crazy and saying, 'Oh, Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!' Steve just turned around and said really stern and bold, 'Okay you guys! When we're up there (pointing up to heaven) and you're down there, don't expect us to help you, 'cause it will be too late!' They shut up and left us alone."
"Well so much for evangelization tonight. There is more, however. Like Annie said, we ought not to just stay at the threshold, but go on to grow. Our next chapter is very important, for it deals with something very close to the Lord’s own heart. A thing that’s important to Him certainly ought to be important to us, right?” And Grandma took up her book to go upstairs.