I think that a busy railway station is a most interesting place for any boy or girl. I have often stood and watched with great interest as crowds, of people came off this train and that, carrying suitcases and looking to the right and to the left, trying to recognize the faces of their friends. At the same time other crowds of people could be seen hurrying out to get on other trains. Some of them seemed to walk ahead with great assurance, and climbed aboard without looking this way or that. Others seemed rather slow and timid, and never quite sure that they were getting on the right train.
Now that I am a bit older, I still enjoy watching the crowds come and go. There is one railway station which I think I shall never forget. We were standing together on the station platform in the city of Cannes in the south of France. It was certainly a very busy place, and trains were coming and going constantly. To make things even more difficult all the announcements and all the conversations were in French. We had our tickets and were all ready to leave for Paris. At last the train pulled up right where we were standing. We were told that this was the correct train, so we promptly lifted our little girl Charlotte up a few steps and set her on the platform of the coach. Then we turned back again to help our little boy, but while we were doing so, the whistle blew, and the train began to move. Poor little Charlotte! I can still see the frightened look in her eyes. She stood at the top of the steps, all alone on the train, about to leave for Paris. And I can almost feel the anxious thumping of my own heart too, as I realized how very quickly we must act. In a moment, kind, strong hands reached up and lifted our little girl from her position and set her safely by our side again. You may be sure we thanked the Lord for keeping us from becoming separated.
As I have looked back from time to time on that event, I have often thought how sad it would be if some of the boys and girls who come so often to Sunday school, and who learn the verse so diligently, would be separated forever and ever from everyone who belongs to the Lord Jesus. Could that possibly take place? Yes, and I am afraid it will take place. For every boy and girl who has not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his or her own precious Saviour will be left behind when the Lord Jesus comes. If the Lord Jesus came while you were reading this paper would you be taken away up to His home in glory? If you are sheltered by His precious blood, you will most surely be there. But if your sins have not yet been washed away, you will be left behind with no more chance of accepting that precious Saviour. If you will open your Bible to Matthew 25:1010And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. (Matthew 25:10), you will find these words: “They that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut.” Don’t you think it would be very wise for each of us to be sure that we are ready?
ML 09/23/1956