Carl came downstairs with his suitcase in his hand all ready to go to the station. He stood facing his father and mother and there was just a little sign of tears in his eyes, for Carl was just about to say good-by and leave his parents to go away to a boarding school. Together the three of them knelt down and asked the Lord to care for their dear boy while he was away.
Carl was a true Christian. He was in the habit of reading his Bible daily and kneeling down beside his bed each night to thank the Lord Jesus for His care through the day, and also to ask for protecting care through the night.
His parents urged him to continue with his daily reading and prayer all the time he was at boarding school, and Carl assured them that he would certainly not forget.
The journey was one of great interest to Carl, for he had not been to the city before. It was quite late that evening when he arrived at the boarding school, and was shown to his room. Three other boys were to share the room with him, and they were already in bed, although not yet asleep.
Quickly Carl prepared himself for bed, and then came the thought of his daily reading and prayer. But it was really so late, and the boys were already in bed, and the room was quite dark. Surely he could miss his reading and prayer just for the first night.
The next day Carl began his studies, and proved to be a very able and clever student. Not only did he stand well in his studies at school, but he could also run faster and jump higher and get games going better than anyone else in the school. All these things made him very popular with the rest of the boys, but I am sorry to say that he never read the Word of God or prayed when anyone else was looking. Once in a long time he would take out his Bible and read a few verses when he was all by himself. But never did he kneel down and pray by his bed when anyone else was in the room.
One day while the boys were engaged in playing, something particularly daring was called for, and immediately the cry went up: “Call for Carl! He’s not afraid of anything!”
Carl was just about to come forward when he heard a quiet voice add, “Yes, Carl is afraid of something.”
Quickly he turned to defend himself against the charge.
“What is it that I am afraid of? Tell me!”
Quietly the young boy said, “Carl, you are afraid of being laughed at.” Then he was quiet for a moment and Carl hung his head.
The boy went on, “Before you came to this school, Carl, our teacher told us your parents were Christians. Our teacher told us that you were a Christian boy, and that you were in the habit of reading your Bible and praying. I am a Christian too, Carl, and since you have come I have watched you to see if you ever read your Bible or pray. I am sorry to say that I have never seen you do either one or the other, and I have decided that perhaps you are afraid of being laughed at.”
Poor Carl, he stood before them all with his head bowed, and the tears began to run down his cheeks. He turned and walked back to his room and fell upon his knees beside his bed. There he remained for a long time in silent prayer. He was owning before the Lord his failure and cowardly conduct, and asking the Lord for strength to be true and faithful to Him.
I am glad to be able to tell you that the rest of the time spent at the boarding school, Carl remained a true soldier of Jesus Christ. In the presence of all the other boys he laid his hand on the shoulder of the young lad who had rebuked him, and thanked him for his faithful remarks.
May I ask the reader of this paper. are you a Christian? Do you read the Word of God? And do you pray? It is not the reading of the Word of God and prayer that makes us Christians, but if we belong to the Lord Jesus Christ, surely we ought to delight to speak to Him in prayer, and to speak to others about Him.
Let us remember and value the words of the Apostle Paul,
ML 10/28/1956