An old negro hurried to the railway station at Alexandria, Virginia, and just managed to board the train bound for Georgia. He looked the picture of weariness, when a young man said, “Uncle, sit down here.” “Thank you, sir,” responded the grateful old man, and sat down, Just then a young fellow brought out some sandwiches and gave them to the hungry old man. “Thank you, sir,” he said, “I’ve had nothing to eat today. Been walking since four this morning to catch this train.” He rambled on, telling of his old home in Georgia and how he had come up to Virginia with his old master to take care of him. “Now he’s dead, I’m going home,” and he spoke as if Georgia were heaven to him.
The conductor came for the tickets, and the old negro could not find his at first, then discovered it pinned to the lining of his old hat. While hunting for it, the conductor had walked on to the net seat, where a pale-faced woman sat, clasping her baby to her breast, “Tickets!” he called. “I haven’t any,” she answered sadly. “You’ll have to get off then, Madam,” he replied.
“O, don’t put me off,” she pleaded. “My husband is down south, had to go for his health. The doctor said he had to, or die, and we sold everything to pay the bills and send him. Now he’s dying and X must go to him and I’ve no money.”
“Sorry, madam, you’ll have to get off. I must do my duty.” Then he turned to collect the old negro’s ticket, while the woman sank back in her seat, her face white, and her eyes staring hopelessly out of the window.
Then the old black man said, “Guess you’ll have to put me off, sah. You don’t expect an old negro like me to have enough money to buy a ticket all the way to Georgia, do you?” After some rough words, the conductor went on to the other passengers. The old man turned round and remarked to the woman with the baby, “Here’s your ticket, and I hope you’ll find your husband better than you’s feared.”
Staring in bewilderment, she could not believe her eyes, and the tears fell as she tried to find words to express her gratitude, The train slowed down then, and the old man, with a wonderful smile on his face, shambled wearily to the door. The train pulled out and the last that was seen of the old negro was his bent figure, trudging patiently along the road, walking down to Georgia.
It is not hard to see in this story a faint picture of the wondrous love of God in the gift of His Son for our salvation. We are all like this poor woman, unable to pay our way to heaven, no matter how sincere or earnest we may be. That glorious destiny can never be reached by any works of merit, “Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph. 2:99Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:9)). But it is here that the gospel meets our deep need, telling us of One “Who though He was rich, for our sakes became poor,” that we, through faith in His precious blood, might possess the gift of salvation with the sure hope of glory everlasting. The moment we look to the Cross, and see Him there, taking our place under the judgment of God, bearing our sins’ heavy load, then the free ticket to glory immediately becomes ours. Resting on His merit, we can read our title clear to mansions in the skies. What a wonderful salvation!
ML 01/22/1961