Winter was coming on. Already the cold winds rattled the windows where poor old Mr. James lived. The old man sighed bitterly.
“It’s all right for folks that have money,” he said, “but no one wants a penniless old man like me. I know my nephew would rather I did not come to live with him, but I can’t help it. I’m starving to death here.”
Grumbling to himself, Mr. James packed his few belongings in to a small trunk, then took a last look about his lonely home. His eyes fell upon a large beautifully-bound Bible, which he picked up with another grumble, “If only my Uncle John had left me something better than this,” he said bitterly. “He was rich enough, and I had reason to expect a good share when he died. He promised me so.”
The old man’s goods were packed, but the wagon had not yet come to take him to the station, so he sat down to while away the time with the old Book. He blew the dust off its cover, and slowly turned the pages. I cannot tell you what scriptures he read, but I well know the power of this Book, the living and powerful Word of God. Old Mr. James used to say that we are all sinners, but now in the presence of God, he saw that he himself was a sinner. He read of One, even God, who gave His only begotten Son, that old Mr. James might have everlasting life. He forgot the time and the cold winds and the empty purse as he read, with tears in his eyes, the very words of God. He found that the blood of Christ could cleanse away all his sins and his soul was filled with the peace of forgiveness. Rich old Mr. James!
“No wonder Uncle John loved it,” he murmured, as he turned another page. And there, to his astonished gaze, lay a note for a large sum of money.
“I’ve lived on the poorest of fare all these years,” he mourned. “I’ve been cold and all but starving. This treasure was here for me all the time and I never knew it.”
The wasted years never came back, but I scarcely need to tell you that he and his big Bible brought joy and not sorrow to his nephew’s house, and his nephew’s children.
Perhaps my reader is like one of the little nephews and nieces who crowded around the great-uncle’s knee. Listen then to the old man’s voice saying, “Don’t wait until you are old to find your treasure, but find it now in your youth. There is no treasure on earth like the Word of God if you believe it and obey it.
ML 01/22/1950