Fred was just a poor boy in a small country village, but he had such a keen desire to go to London to see the King, that for years he had saved his pennies for the long-anticipated journey by train. When he actually did get to Buckingham Palace, he was stopped by the guards who told him he could not possibly see the King unless he had been especially invited.
While Fred was pleading to be allowed in “just for a minute” the guards suddenly snapped to attention and saluted a young gentleman who stopped and asked what was the matter.
“Please, Sir,'' said Fred, brushing aside the tears with his sleeve, “I’ve saved up for a long time to get enough to come to London, and I do so want to see the King, just to say “Good morning” to him, but nobody will let me.”
The boy’s pleadings seemed to affect the young man; he hesitated for a moment, then he said, “Come along with me, my boy, and no one will stop you.”
He led the way through the big gate and heavy doors, and all along the footmen bowed to him, then along the corridor with beautiful pictures on the walls, but Fred did not take his eyes off the young man who held his hand. At last the young man opened the door of a large room, richly furnished, where an elderly gentleman was sitting.
“Who is this?” he asked as they entered.
The prince smiled and said, “I found him outside on the steps, pleading with the guards to let him in. He says he saved his money for years to see you, Father, and I thought you would not mind if I brought him in with me just to see you. It would be the greatest moment of his life, I’m sure.”
“You are the King then, Sir,” gasped Fred in surprise.
The gracious monarch smiled, and shaking hands with the boy asked him how far he had come and how he had saved up enough money to travel so far. At first Fred was over-awed, but soon he was telling His Majesty all about his dream, his efforts and his difficulties, and how happy he was to get to see the King.
“Now you can go home and tell your father and your mother all about it” said the King, “and I admire your determination.”
Fred hastily thanked the prince too, and as a guard showed him the way out through the great doors again, his heart was singing for joy — he had seen and spoken to the King. His wildest dreams had come true!
When Fred arrived back home, his parents could tell by the light in his eyes that his trip was successful. Soon the entire village had heard his story, and Fred never tired of telling how the doors which were closed to him were opened by the kind prince who took him into the great palace and right into the King himself.
When we heard Fred’s story, we could not help thinking of something the Lord Jesus said: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.” (John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6).) If we to go Him and trust Him as our Saviour, He will bring us to God Himself. But what He has done for us is so much more wonderful than anything the prince could ever do. We are all sinners and could never enter into God’s holy presence, but the Lord Jesus, we read, “once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.”
Fred only saw the King for a few minutes, but believers, saved by grace, will dwell in the Father’s presence, and in the presence of the King forever. Indeed we shall sit with Him on His throne and reign with Him eternally. O how wonderful it is when we think of all the Lord Jesus and God the Father have done for such poor, worthless worms of the dust.
“They shall see the King in His beauty.”
ML-11/05/1978