JIM’S FATHER had passed away just four days ago. Mother was left with the seven children and Jim was the only one who had not yield his heart to the Saviour.
Jim knew his father had gone to be with the Lord for he had borne a bright Christian testimony before his family and the neighbors as well. Jim remembered how his dad loved to look out of the window of the old farm house across the green meadows and the fields of waving grain. But suddenly he was gone. Jim had no doubt that his father was, “with Christ, which is far better.”
Jim knew he was the only member of the family that was not yet ready to follow where his father had gone. With these thoughts filling his mind, he wandered off to the barn. Suddenly he stopped. There in the hay before him were the distinct imprints of a pair of knees. They were his father’s, and Jim knew that he had prayed for him there that last morning he was here on earth. A moment later his own knees were down in his father’s knee prints, and kneeling there he yielded his “broken and contrite heart” to his father’s God.
God who never turned anyone away, met Jim there on the barn floor and saved him. He knew that the great question was settled at last — his sins were gone. He had found Christ. Now he was bound up in that same bundle of life with his father and mother and all his sisters and brothers.
Jim paced up and down the barn floor for some time scarce able to contain the joy of heaven that filled and overflowed his soul. Then he rushed back to the house. As he entered the door his mother looked into his face and before he could say anything she cried, “Oh, Jim, I’m so glad!” She read in his face the wonderful change that had taken place.
And in that home the sorrow after the funeral was suddenly turned into joy which only those know who belong to the family of God.
ML-12/01/1974