IT WAS UP in the vast snowy wastes of Northern Canada and the biting winds blowing down from the Arctic piled the snow in great white drifts all around. An old missionary and a younger man sat around the cheering camp fire and gazed at the blazing logs.
“How many years have you been here?” asked Jim.
“Forty years have I carried the gospel of Christ throughout these regions,” replied Charles Thompson, “traveling by boat, horse, on foot and dog team. Summer suns, wintry blasts, storms and sunshine — I weather them each month of the year.”
“But you’re getting too old for such hard work,” suggested Jim. “Not many men would keep on as you are.”
“Perhaps so,” replied Charles say. “At my age, sixty, many men are ready to quit, but that’s why I want you to take over part of the work. But, me quit? Never!”
Jim looked at the old missionary who had labored throughout that vast northern country visiting the scattered settlers, trappers, traders, and Eskimos, bringing them the sweet story of the Saviour who died for sinners everywhere.
“Tell me, did you ever feel tempted to quit?” asked Jim.
The old man thought for a moment and then he said: “Yes, I remember once when I almost decided to quit the work. I got discouraged, doubts and fears assailed me, and my heart grew faint. I had been here about five years when I met a man who told me he knew of an opening in the city where there was a need for one to preach Christ there. He said it would be an easier life, that I would have a great many more to preach to, and I could enjoy the comforts of modern life without having to battle these northern elements.
“I must confess,” the old man went on, “that the picture he painted appealed to me, and I was almost tempted to tell him I would accept, but decided I would think it over first.
“I had planned a trip which would take me 500 miles over these snowy wastes, and I was to tell him when I got back.
“I had a wonderful dog team, five fine huskies, but the best was my lead dog, Hero. Strong, wise and courageous, Hero could follow a trail even when it was buried deep in the snow. We had gone 400 miles when Hero took sick. I could see that he lacked his usual vigor that morning, and by noon he could hardly keep going, though he showed no intention of quitting. Early that afternoon I stopped and doctored him up some, hoping he would improve through the night.
“Morning came and Hero was in his place as the lead dog. I looked into his eyes and a look of pride shone in them. I patted him on the head and spoke a word of encouragement to him. At my signal he leaped forward pulling the rest of the team into line.
“In less than an hour he stumbled and fell, too weak to travel further. He started to his feet again, but never was there such a pathetic sorrowful look in his eyes. The noble dog was near the end of his course. Still, he wanted to die on the trail.
“The brave fellow tried to stagger on without a signal from me” — the old missionary paused to wipe a tear from his eye — “then he fell, never to rise again. The end had come. Hero died in the harness.
“Many were the tears I shed that day as I knew my faithful partner of many trails was gone. I built a fire to thaw the ground and there buried him. Dear old Hero! Faithful, loyal to the end.
“All the thoughts of the ease and luxury in the new position in the city left me then and there, never to return. A dog’s loyalty to me shamed me in my loyalty to Christ. One of His faithful creatures had taught me a lesson. That night I looked up into the stars and thanked my blessed Lord for the privilege of serving Him in the gospel, and I asked Him for the grace to serve Him in this place where He put me, until I die in my tracks.”
Dear reader, that blessed Saviour and Friend, did not stop short of death to prove His love to you and me. He died for us! May the response of our heart be “Lord Jesus I take Thee as my Saviour; now, Lord, help me to live for Thee and serve Thee here until the end.”
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Cor. 15:5858Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58).
ML-04/09/1972