ONE cold windy night a poor homeless boy stood in a street shivering. He was waiting for some bad companions with whom he had made plans for a theft that night. A man came up to him, and laying his hand on his shoulder said kindly,
“Boy, what are you doing here at this time of night? Go home and go to bed.” “I have no home, and no bed.”
“Poor fellow! would you go to a home if I tell you of one?”
“That would I, sharp!”
“Well, go down the street to this address I give you.” As soon as the boy heard the number, off he started.
“Stop!” called the man. “You must know the pass. Can you read?”
“No sir!”
“Then remember this, “John 3:16,16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)” or else you cannot get in. This is something that will do you good.” The boy hurried away repeating “John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)” over and over. Soon he came to the place, and timidly rang the bell, fearing he might not be admitted.
“Who’s there?” called a voice.
“Right, that’s the pass!” and the big door swung open, and soon the boy was in a warm, clean bed, such as he had never seen before, and he said to himself,
“That is a lucky name, the man gave me, I’ll stick to it.”
In the morning he was given a warm breakfast before leaving. Then as he carelessly started to cross a busy street he was struck by a passing delivery truck. He was lifted up, unconscious, and carried to a hospital. As he lay in the bed, feverish and in pain, he often cried out,
After some hours he became conscious, and eased of the pain, and looked about him wondering where he was. Then a patient in the next bed said,
“Well, John 3:16,16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) how are you?” “How did you know my new name?” “Why, boy, you have said it over and over, and I, for one, say blessed John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)!”
Then the man found that the boy did not know what his “new name” stood for. So from the Bible he read to him the precious verse found in the 3rd chapter of the gospel of John:
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
“That is beautiful!” said the boy, as, for the first time, he heard of the love of God in giving His Son, and of a Home, not for a night, but forever. He believed the words of the Saviour. And others who heard this talk, found that those words would do them eternal good also.
When the hurt limbs were strong to leave the hospital, the homeless boy was given a home, and sent to school, and learned useful work. When he grew to a young man his great interest was to tell poor boys of the love of God.
ML 03/21/1937