Today there are thousands of young men and young women in a lost eternity. Some of them were hurled into eternity quite suddenly—bent on pleasure, and the things of this world, they hurried along with the giddy throng—all unmindful of God's great love or of His claims upon them—then came the tragedy, then—eternity.
Thousands were shocked as they read the story of the appalling tragedy in M. on a Sunday afternoon. To spend a pleasant Sunday afternoon these boys and girls went to a theater. There was laughter and song—as a survivor described it, "It was a Comedy and everybody was laughing. I was laughing too, when somebody yelled ‘Fire!!’”
In a moment, the laughter was changed to consternation. The screams, then the mad rush—somebody stumbled, then another, and in a few seconds, there was a pile of young boys and girls, shrieking, struggling and gasping for breath. Soon the struggles ceased—the choking sobs, and these young lives, which had enjoyed the "comedy", experienced the "tragedy"—now passed from the theater into "eternity" to meet God before whom all must give an account.
Terrible beyond words. The tears unbidden came to the eyes as one read the long list—77 young souls, their ages ranging from 5 to 16 years, suddenly hurled into eternity. Many of them may be too young to rightly understand, not having come to the age of responsibility. Such, thank God, through the sacrifice of Jesus will go to heaven, but of the rest, what shall we say? Where are they? God only knows, and we leave them with Him, for even if they turned to Jesus in their dying moments we know that He would receive them, and one only hopes that such was the case.
But why this tragedy? Why should those so young be cut off suddenly? There's that darling boy or girl, the light and joy of the home, rudely plucked away, and the fond mother sobs for her child.
Is God cruel? Perish such a thought! Then why does He allow such calamities to come upon us?
Shepherds often experience difficulties in getting the sheep into some particular field. Sometimes on such occasions the shepherd will pick up a little lamb from its mother's side and carry it away into the middle of the field.
"O!" you say, "how cruel!”
Wait, let us watch and see what happens. See way over in the center of the new field is the young lamb. Listen—M-a-a-a! M-a-a-a!! Observe, the mother hears its call and wends her way in that direction. Then another sheep follows, still another, until the whole flock is safely in the field.
That darling child has been taken from your side. God has taken it home to Himself. It is in that happy land where there is no sorrow, no pain, no tears but endless joy. Mother! Father! Would you like to see that boy or girl again? Did you love them?
"Ah, more than life! How can I be assured of seeing them again?" do you ask. Why, Mother or Father, the God who gave you that dear boy or girl has taken them home to Himself. It may be that He has spoken to you times without number, and you did not hear and perhaps the only way He could get you to listen was to allow some tragedy.
If He has taken your loved child away home, it is in order that you may come home to Him too. God is calling, Jesus is calling—has called you long! Now, somebody else is, as it were, calling you to that golden shore—it is that loved child.
O, Mother, Father, won't you come to Jesus now. His blood will cleanse away all your sin and He will fill your sorrowing heart with joy unspeakable.
O, reader! Your heart may be broken, but Jesus is near. He came to comfort those who mourn. Now, even now, as you lay this aside, Jesus is waiting with arms extended to receive you to His heart and home of love. Do trust Him, for He says.