A LITTLE Hottentot girl in South Africa, who had been trained in a missionary school there, became ill, and 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.”
“You are at home, my dear; this is your home,” he replied.
“I want to go home; I want to go home,” she repeated.
“What home is it you want to go to?” “The home of the narrow way,” she cried.
For some minutes after saying this, being in great pain, she could not utter a word.
As soon as her pain stayed a little she spoke again, 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 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 for 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 was she than many in this more 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.” (Matt. 7:1414Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matthew 7:14).)
Do my young readers believe, as the little Hottentot girl did, that Jesus is the Way, and the only Way, to God? He says, “I am the Way, and 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 again He says, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6: 37).
Seeing, then, that Jesus is so willing to bless you, I do trust you will come to Him at once.
ML 07/21/1918