The boys in our story were “street kids” about whom no one cared. You don’t have to go very far in our big cities before you come across others just like these boys. Some of them might know who their mother is, but some don’t even know that. They have dropped out of school, have no real home, and are on their own.
Mr. Fegan found one of these boys and asked the question, “Where do you sleep?”
“In the boxcars... if we don’t get caught,” said little Willie.
Mr. Fegan, who knew the love and kindness of God toward himself, longed to show God’s love and kindness to others, so one night he set out in the cold November darkness to find the boys and bring them to his home.
The railroad yard had an eight-foot high fence all around it and was guarded by a watchdog and a watchman who did not hesitate to kick and cuff the boys and turn the watchdog on them whenever he found them in the yard. But on the night of our story, the watchman was probably having a nap in his nice, warm guardhouse.
Mr. Fegan brought a friendly policeman to the fence and whispered to him in the darkness, “If you don’t mind stooping down, I’ll put my handkerchief on your coat so it won’t get dirty, put one foot on your back, and I’ll be over the fence in a jiffy. I’m looking for some boys who might be sleeping in empty boxcars.”
“No boys over there,” smiled the policeman, but he cooperated. “All right,” he said, “over you go!”
Mr. Fegan quietly moved down the dark rows of empty boxcars, stopping beside each one to listen for the boys. He climbed up into one of the boxcars where he could hear the heavy breathing of the sleeping boys, and sometimes a gasping breath as they shuddered with cold in their sleep.
Why not leave them there? Mr. Fegan had a warm bed at home that cold night, but at the moment it was empty because he cared about the well-being of these boys with no home. And the God of heaven cares about your well-being, too. His care is not just a faraway pity, or caring just enough to give you money and health and let you go on your own sinful way. God sent His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, down here to give you the right to become one of His children — to have a special place in His home in heaven, because He loves you and wants you there. Will you accept His loving care and offer of sins forgiven, or will you pull away your shoulder and ask to be left alone?
Mr. Fegan gently wakened the nearest boy and, explaining that he was a friend who wanted to help them, led him to the fence and boosted him over into the arms of the friendly policeman. He was soon back with another and another... until the policeman was guarding 11 boys against the fence.
“How did you get over the fence in the first place?” he wanted to know.
“We didn’t get over, we got under, said one boy, and he led them to a spot where part of two boards had been broken away, leaving a small opening through which a skinny boy could just wiggle his way in by lying flat on the ground.
That’s the way this world is. It offers hard work for relief that doesn’t last. But the Lord Jesus has completed the work of payment for sin, and He offers you relief and peace that lasts forever, because He has taken the punishment for sin Himself. If you will accept His loving offer you will find that the One who has forgiven your sins is ready to be the burden-bearer for the remainder of your Christian life. His promise is, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:55Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5).
Mr. Fegan arranged transportation for them and took them all to his “Boys’ Home” where they were lovingly cared for and were trained in job skills so that they were able to find a job on their own. His heart was full of loving-kindness which won the love of a thousand boys who are now scattered all over the world.
Yes, scattered. God’s children are found in every country, anxious to tell of the Saviour’s power and of His redeeming love. We are not home in heaven yet. We have troubles now, but there are no troubles in the Father’s home where we will soon be. Will you choose to struggle for the world’s short-lived pleasures, or will you come to the Lord Jesus and let Him choose your pleasures for you?
ML-10/19/1986