In a western town lived a small family: father, mother and little son John. Times were hard and they were poor. But something far worse than poverty overtook the little family: an epidemic swept through the area and both father and mother died. After the funeral expenses were paid there was practically nothing left for little John.
Only one hope came to John. He had heard his parents talk of a relative who lived in Chicago. If he could only go to him!
One day as he wandered near the railway station, lonely and forlorn, a train thundered in and stopped beside the platform. John asked a man in the crowd where the train was going.
“To Chicago” was the reply.
“Chicago!” exclaimed John, moving nearer to the train. “That’s where I want to go.”
Presently, while he stood wistfully watching, the conductor shouted, “All aboard!” and the engine’s bell began ringing.
All aboard? thought John. Why, that means everybody aboard, and if everybody’s invited to get on, that means me.
“ALL ABOARD!” again shouted the conductor louder than ever, and without further hesitation John clambered aboard and took a seat. In a few seconds the train moved swiftly on its way.
Before long, however, the conductor appeared asking for tickets. But John had no ticket, neither had he any money. The stern conductor eyed him severely and ordered him to leave the train at the next station.
This he did, and again he could be seen standing alone on the platform. But to his astonishment and delight, the conductor shouted again, “ALL ABOARD!”
And again John responded and took his seat on the train.
Here he was again confronted by the conductor who angrily demanded: “Did I not order you to leave the train at the last station?”
“Yes,” replied John, “and so I did. But you said ‘ALL aboard’ once more and I thought that must mean me. So I got on again.”
The conductor saw the point. It was his mistake as well as John’s, and the sad, honest face of the little orphan captured the conductor’s interest and heart. So after listening to John’s story, he let him ride freely to Chicago and his relative.
We may smile at little John’s credulity, but we must admire his faith. He heard the conductor’s unqualified “all aboard” and acted on it.
The little word “all” is one of the greatest and grandest in the gospel message. Though we read that all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God, we also read that there is no difference . . . the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. (Romans 10:1212For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. (Romans 10:12).)