A FEW years ago, a little Hottentot girl died in South Africa. She had been trained in a missionary school there. While she was lying ill, her teacher went to visit her. The first thing she said to him was, “Uncle, I want to go home.”
The young Africans of that district always call their teachers uncle and aunt.
He replied, “You are at home, my dear; this is your home.”
Still she said, “I want to go home—I want to go home.”
Her teacher then asked, “What home is it you want to go to?”
And she cried, “The home of the narrow way.” Her pains then became very great. Her poor mother, and those who stood by, shed many tears.
For some minutes she could not utter a word, but as soon as her pain stayed a little she said, repeating the words three times, as these Africans always do when they wish to speak very strongly, “Jesus receiveth sinners! sinners! sinners! Joy! joy! joy!”
That poor little Hottentot knew Jesus as “the Way,” and her heart overflowed with joy at the thought that He “receiveth sinners,” and casts out none who come to Him. She did not then die, but rallied again, and was easier several hours, during which time she spoke to her mother. Her last words were, “Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit.”
Thus peacefully did this little African go home, to be forever with the Lord far wiser than many in this favored land, who tell us that they hope to go to heaven when they die, and yet forget or will not see that heaven is the home of the narrow way.
And now I must ask my young readers if they too will believe, as the little Hottentot girl did, that Jesus is the Way, and the only Way, to God, for He says “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me” (John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)). And also you will find written in John 6:37,37All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37) “Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.” And seeing that Jesus is so willing to bless you, as He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, I do trust you will come to Him at once, as “now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)).