Joe Bell was one of a gang of men employed in making a new railroad. He was neither learned nor polished, but his heart had been turned to the Lord. God had saved Joe, and Joe was not ashamed of God's gospel.
Our friend Joe seems to have been made for rough usage, and was not afraid to warn even these rough men of judgment to come. Of course he often met with opposition and persecution. Jim Barnes particularly mocked at Joe and his religion continually; but, as is often the case, God avenged His child and punished the evil-doer in a way that cast solemnity over the whole gang.
One morning after Joe in the fullness of his heart had engaged in his "gospel talk," Jim the scoffer ridiculed him and roughly told him to keep out of his way. This wicked, rough scoffer did not want Bell and his line-not he. But scarcely an hour later, how different it was!
The men were running truck loads of ballast down the road and "shooting" them to form an embankment. The rails were wet and slippery with recent rain, so that the wheels did not "bite" as usual. How it happened no one knew, but as one truck shot past a cry of distress arose from someone just in front of it. It was none other than Bell's scoffing mate! He had slipped and fallen.
In vain did the poor fellow roll over and over, trying to get clear. It was too late-the heavy load struck him, ran over him, and left him bleeding and mangled. His mates gathered round and were for taking him to the hospital close by, but, "No," he cried. "I'm dying; leave me alone!"
The stricken man's eyes wandered around the group as if looking for someone. "Where's Bell?" he asked.
The man who a few minutes before was the object of his scorn, was the very man he now wished to see! Why not send for the skeptical mate who had laughed at the good old Book? Oh, reader, there is no comfort in the dying hour to be had from scoffers and skeptics; the Christian was the man he wanted to guide him to death's portals.
With a sad heart Joe Bell knelt beside the prostrate man and tenderly told him how Jesus had died to save such as he.
"Look to Him, Jim! Count on Him. He loves you. He waits to pardon you. Believe on Him," Joe pleaded with his dying mate. "Trust in Him and be saved."
Who shall say what was the outcome of such pleading in that hour of death? The Lord only knows; but we believe that Joe's prayers were heard and that Jim's redeemed soul was received into glory.
Ah, friend, there are many like poor Jim and the gang with which he worked. They mock at sin and at the precious Word of God while they are in health; but how is it with them when God says, "This night thy soul shall be required of thee"?
Friend, accept now the love of God in Christ Jesus. It is offered full and free, for "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16).