Part 2
A few weeks more and that sorrow burst upon him like a terrible thunder storm on a summer day.
The blinds were down, and the curtains drawn to keep out the faintest ray of light that might stray in. A silence as of death reigned in the room, and only broken now and again by the sound of restless, troubled moans. Upon a little bed, with burning cheeks and unnaturally brilliant eyes, lay little Cecil.
“Oh! the drops of blood! I see them on His forehead! Oh, father, father, why did they kill Him?” sighed the little sufferer.
“A story he was reading just before he was taken ill,” explained the father, who was standing beside the bed, in answer to the doctor’s questioning look.
“Well, well, keep him quiet,” said the grave, matter of fact doctor, taking up his hat to leave the room. “I shall call in again this afternoon.”
As soon as the door had closed behind the doctor, the young man seated himself by his little boy and watched the varying expressions on the small sad face, until the burning eyes closed, and a deep, heavy sleep fell upon the boy.
Who can know the thoughts that came crowding into the father’s mind as he sat there. With overwhelming shame he thought of the lie he had told his little son.
But this was only the starting point—one of those seemingly little things God graciously uses in bringing poor lost souls to know their real condition before Him. For the first time he thought of the guilt of this positive sin against God. It grew deeper and darker. But did that sin stand alone?
While that child lay there, as he thought, on the brink of eternity, his whole life passed before him; and now God seemed to have a connection with every thought, word, and action of that life. But it was a condemning connection. He became clearly, painfully conscious that he had left God out of every one of these thoughts, words, and actions. A crushing sense of having lived for his own pleasure, and of having completely, not only forgotten God, but in his heart despised Him, overwhelmed his soul. He knew now, that he was a sinner before God.
He was learning that “God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:55This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5). But that light condemned him, and he was willing to be condemned. Still ignorant of the kindness of God, he regarded and accepted this present trial, as a punishment from God for his sin and folly.
“Oh God! I have sinned against Thee,” he murmured in an agony of remorse and repentance. “And now Thou wilt take this one as Thou didst the other.”
But no—God’s ways are not as man’s ways! In an hour’s time little Cecil awoke. The fever had left his cheeks and his eyes once more assumed their natural look.
With a heart filled with thankfulness, his father bent over him, and placed his head on the little shoulder.
ML 10/18/1953