In the United States from about 1930 to 1936, times were so hard for most people that those years are called “the great depression.” During that time many men did not have jobs. Since they had no money either, some would hop on freight trains to move from one part of the country to another, looking for work. These men were often called “hoboes.” There were places where they would meet in “camps” to trade stories, fix simple meals over an outdoor fire, and pass on information about the homes where they had been given food.
Violence was not as common then as now, and people were not as suspicious of strangers as we must be in our time. It was not uncommon for folks to invite these strangers into their homes to share what food they had. Some folks would give these homeless people a meal but would have them stay outside to eat. And some folks would turn them away completely, refusing to give them any help whatever.
Many homes used wood-burning stoves for heating and cooking. Some of these homeless people would offer to cut wood or do other chores in exchange for food when they came to the door seeking help.
My dad was almost always kind to the hoboes. He would invite them to come in and sit down at the table to eat what we had. There were times when we did not have much to offer them.
One day an older man with a white beard came to our house, asking for food. All we had to offer him were some shredded wheat biscuits. We owned a cow, so there was milk to drink and to put on the cereal. This poor man was really hungry - so hungry that he wolfed down his food and spilled milk down his beard. How grateful that poor man was for shredded wheat!
This poor man who came to our door begging for food knew what he needed - he was hungry. Do you have an empty feeling in your heart, a longing for something you cannot explain? Because “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)), there is in each of our hearts a hunger caused by sin. The answer to that hunger is found in 1 John 4:88He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. (1 John 4:8), “God is love.” His very nature is love, and He loves us even though we are sinners. He wants to satisfy that hunger in our hearts caused by sin. He sent the Lord Jesus Christ to save us from our sins. “The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world” (1 John 4:1414And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. (1 John 4:14)).
Our family was able to satisfy the hobo’s hunger with something as simple as a bowl of shredded wheat and milk. But the Lord Jesus had to die on the cross and shed His blood to wash away our sins in order to satisfy the hunger sin has caused in your heart and mine. The Lord told His disciples, and it includes every boy and girl now, “Suffer [let] the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:1414But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. (Mark 10:14)). To come to the Lord Jesus means that you believe in your heart that He is the Son of God who loves you, and that He suffered and died to pay to God your debt of sin. The Bible says, “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:910).
Do you think the hungry hobo went away from our house happy? Do you suppose he ever told anyone in one of their camps about the people who invited him in and fed him? He did leave our place happy and satisfied from his hunger, but it would not last very long. After a few hours he would be hungry again. The Lord Jesus said, “He that cometh to Me shall never hunger” (John 6:3535And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. (John 6:35)), and 1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7) says, “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” When you come to Him and accept Him as your Saviour, God forgives your sins forever.
If our family had adopted this hungry stranger, he could have shared our food and comforts for the rest of his life. God does adopt into His family those who trust the Lord Jesus as their Saviour. As His sons and daughters, the joy and comfort of His heavenly home will be theirs to enjoy for all eternity.
There is one way the invitation of the Lord Jesus is completely different from the way some people treated the hoboes. The Lord Jesus never turns anyone away. He said, “Him that [comes] to Me I will in no wise [no way] cast out” (John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)). Will you come to Him today and let Him satisfy your heart’s hunger?
ML-12/15/1996