A CHRISTIAN farmer, who lived near Chicago, had an only son, whom he dearly loved, and who was most useful to him in helping to manage and work his big farm.
One morning he said to him, “John, I want you to go to Chicago tomorrow with that big load of grain and sell it for me. So be up early, and get off right after breakfast, so that you can get home again before the night falls.”
John did as his father wished, and started the next morning with his load of grain on his journey to the big city.
John was a capable fellow, and soon sold his grain, getting a very good price for it. But although he was capable, John was not too steady, and before leaving town, he thought he would try his hand at winning some money at one of the gambling houses, with which the city abounds. Instead of winning, however, poor John was duped, and lost all—first the money he had been paid for the grain, and finally his wagon and two fine horses.
What was he now to do? He was ashamed to return home, almost penniless and alone. How should he ever meet his father, and bear his reproaches and anger? Suddenly he remembered he had some friends in a distant town, and finding he still had some money in one of his side pockets, he took the train there, thinking that his father would never find him.
Imagine the sorrow of his father at the disappearance of his son, as day after day he watched, and waited, and wept for him. No tidings, however, could he get of his dear boy, and he mourned for him as one dead.
At last he thought he would go and seek high and low for him; and as he used to preach the gospel, he went from one place to another, offering to preach in any mission hall or other building that would open its doors to him. At the close of each service, he would take the audience into his confidence and, telling them of his lost son, give a minute description of him, and ask that if any of them came across such a boy, they would be sure to tell him that his father still loved him, and was ready to forgive him if he would only come home again.
One night, at the close of a gospel address near San Francisco, he saw a poor-looking fellow in the gallery, who strangely attracted his attention. Again and again he fixed his eyes on him. At last it dawned on him that this stranger might be his prodigal son. He hurried to the spot where the boy was seated, and what was his joy to find that he was indeed his long-lost son.
The poor father there and then fell on his neck, and covered him with tears and kisses. John broke down and wept like a child, confessed all to his father and asked his forgiveness, which was gladly given. Father and son then started for home, a happy pair, and this was the end of John’s follies. Ever afterward his delight was to please his father who had so lovingly sought him, and freely forgiven him all.
Dear young friends, the love of this father for his erring son is but a faint picture of the love God has for you. Oh! how He loves each of us, and how He longs that we should be reconciled to Him! He has mule forth in the Person of Jesus, His beloved Son, to seek and save us, for “All we like sheep have gone astray!, Are you still one of the stray ones, “afar off,” and “a child of wrath"? Oh! I entreat you, do not longer rain at a distance, but turn to God in repentance and put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ WHO DIED FOR YOU. Thus will you be brought to rejoice in the love of God, and to know the sweetness of the words— “The Father Himself loveth you.”
ML-12/09/1962