Great was the joy in the first boy’s heart when his brother returned and confessed that he too was now “on the Lord’s side.” During the next term of school, they commenced a weekly boys’ meeting at their father’s house, to which they invited their schoolfellows, a few of whom responded to the invitation to come. Then they had straight boy-to-boy heart-chats, seeking to win these boys for Christ. It seems wonderful to the writer, who happens to be one of the boys himself, to write of this eighteen years afterwards. Most people would consider it presumption for two boys of twelve years to do such a thing; but they were in real earnest, and saw only the solemn side as they set about the work to which they truly believed the loved Master had called them.
One evening, at the close of one of these little gatherings, the elder boy, whom we will call Arthur, put to one of the boys almost the same question that he had first asked his twin brother Edward. He knew that his schoolfellow had been touched by what had been said during the evening, and he hoped to lead him then and there to a decision for Christ; but he was not yet willing to decide. His schoolfellow avoided the issue, and when he felt he had done all he then could to persuade him, Arthur said, “Well, Frank, don’t put it aside; let us have another chat tomorrow afternoon. which is a half-holiday. Come for a walk with me then.” But Frank refused. Some power seemed to keep him back. Alas! the same power, the power of evil, has kept back, and is still keeping back, thousands from entering into the narrow way, which is the only path of life, and leading them on the broad one to the destruction of their precious souls.
The next afternoon Frank called at the house and asked to see Arthur. He was out, but Edward came to him.
“I called,” said Frank, “to see Arthur; he asked me to go for a walk with him this afternoon, but I refused; and now I wish I had not, and it is too late, for he is gone out.”
“Well, old man, I will go with you,” replied Edward heartily, and off they started for a good ramble in the country.
It was a lovely autumn afternoon, and after a while they reached a field in which was a pond surrounded by bushes and trees. The spot commanded a splendid view of the surrounding country; and as it was quite dry and warm, they sat down to rest.
Presently Frank broached the subject that was uppermost in his mind.
“Arthur tried to get me last evening to decide for Christ, but I could not.” He said quietly but distinctly, “You know, I’ve been an awfully bad fellow, and it seems I’m too bad for God; I can’t tell you all, but I’ve been a dreadful trouble to my mother, and I feel I’ve made a bad start.”
“Well,” said Edward, “if that means you feel yourself a sinner, you are surely one of those whom Jesus came to save, for He distinctly said, ‘I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’ Then, again, think of that poor thief who hung on the cross beside the Saviour, with all his life of sin and wickedness. You would not say that he was not forgiven, would you? Why Jesus Himself said to him, ‘This day shalt thou be with Me in paradise.’”
Quietly and earnestly the two young fellows talked of these momentous things, until presently Frank said, “I see it all now; oh, how slow I have been to understand that Jesus really bore my sins! I have always thought of it in a general sort of way: I never understood it was for me—my very self; but now I do understand: I know that ‘He loved me and gave Himself for me’; and because of this, if I trust Him, as I can and do, God will forgive me for His sake. Oh, I should now like to thank God for making me to see and understand His wonderful love; cannot I do so now?”
Edward gladly agreed, and there upon the grass another life was yielded, another precious soul passed from death unto life, and was made safe for time and for eternity, through the precious blood of Christ.
Seventeen years after, Edward was giving a gospel address at a small town not far from his early home. At the close of his address a lady came forward and said, “Mr. X., I feel I must tell you what was the first incident in a chain of circumstances that led to my conversion. Do you remember, many years ago, sitting with another boy by a pond in a field, and having a very earnest conversation, and the result?”
“Indeed I do,” said Edward; “it is an incident in my life that I shall never forget.”
“Well,” said the lady, “strange though it may seem, I myself was sitting only a short distance away, painting, and although hidden from view by bushes, I overheard all. Before I knew any one was near, you had commenced talking, so that I did not like to make a noise; but I heard every word that was said, and when you were gone, I made up my mind that I, too, would someday yield myself to the same Saviour, and by His grace, so I have—not then, nor for some months after; but I never forgot the scene, of which I had been such an unsuspected and unintentional spectator.”
These are links in the great chain of God’s wonderful workings of grace-links forged, one by one, and by no means wholly understood at the time; but nevertheless they were God’s work, and in them He was accomplishing His great desire of bringing sinners to Himself.
Some of those of whom I have written have now passed away to be with the Saviour they learned to love on earth; but the three boys, now young men, are still living, and although, no doubt, there have been many failings in their lives, to the glory of God it may be said that they continue to witness for Him.
“Saved by His grace, kept by His power.”
Dear reader, the chain is not yet completed, though no one but God knows when it will be, or how soon the door of salvation may be shut. This true story is perhaps one of the links that will draw you to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour.
“Why not? Why not?
Why not come to Him now?”
ML 02/21/1909