At two o’clock in the morning most boys and girls are fast asleep. But the morning of my story, we were all wide awake, for we had just flown across the Atlantic Ocean in a big plane, and were coming in to land at a place called Gander, Newfoundland. We had been away from home for a long time, and it seemed good to think that we were soon to be back in our own beds.
“Please have all passports and vaccination certificates ready for inspection.”
The plane had come to a stop and all the passengers were hurried into the Immigration office to have their papers checked, “Your passports, sir.”
I handed in the passports and they were carefully checked. “All in order, sir, and may I see your vaccination certificate?”
These were handed over too, but something seemed to be wrong, “Something wrong here, sir. There are just four certificates and there are five in your family.”
“But officer, our baby is just a year old, and doctor at home told us that he didn’t need a certificate.”
“I’m sorry, but the regulations say that not one person is permitted to enter Canada without a vaccination certificate. The plane must go on without you.”
What could we do? Just one little thing wrong with my papers, and there we were about 2,000 miles from home. We thought everything was in order. We hoped it was in order, but we were wrong! The regulations of the land would not let us in, and so we watched while our suitcases were taken off the plane, and away it went towards home and left us there alone!
Now, boys and girls, before I finish this story, let me tell you what it brought to my mind. Right now you and I are on a journey that will lead us to eternity. And that journey may be just about over for you or for me. Is everything ready for us to enter heaven? Thank God I can say it is so with me. The Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross of Calvary is my only passport to glory, and I know it will get me in! Have you that passport? Is Jesus your Saviour too? And if you found the door of heaven closed against you, what would you do? It would be too late then to come to Jesus—you would be cast into an eternal hell.
I am glad to tell you that our story ended happily. A doctor came to see us, and soon little Danny was vaccinated—but still that was not enough. The officer had to send a telegram to Ottawa, and at last the message came back. What did it say? Oh how eager we were to know! It was good news—we were allowed to start for home. You may be sure we thanked the Lord for taking care of us, and it was not too many hours before we were safely amongst our loved ones again.
Now let me ask you once again. Are you ready to meet God? Don’t wait another day, but be sure that you are cleansed in the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
ML 03/22/1953