In Germany lived a poor Christian shoemaker. Times were exceedingly hard and only with great difficulty was he able to bring up his family.
But harder times still lay ahead. His health failed, until finally, seized with a terminal illness, his little shop had to be closed. From then on he slowly sank into the direst poverty.
Word of his plight reached the ears of a benevolent Christian worker, who with the object of helping him searched out the now destitute man. He found him in a small attic room, a stark picture of misery and want. He had seen many cases of poverty before, but on entering the little garret occupied by the sick shoemaker, the visitor was stunned.
Never had he witnessed such appalling conditions. The low dark room was utterly unfit for human habitation. There was no furniture, not even a chair or a bed.
In the corner, upon a heap of rags sat the shoemaker, now little more than a skeleton.
Recovering from shock and amazement, the visitor sat down beside him and taking his hand in his he said: "My poor friend, you seem to be very ill. Can you not lie down? It must be tiresome to sit up all the time."
"No, I cannot lie down," said the shoemaker with difficulty. This is the only way I can breathe. Yes, I am very ill. But in a few days, maybe hours, it will be all over.
"I know just how it will go. They will carry me down the narrow stairs and over to the cemetery. Then they will lower me into a grave. And there will they leave my body alone..."
The visitor wept. All was so true, all would come to pass. He attempted to reply, but words for the moment failed him.
Suddenly the dying man opened his eyes and a heavenly smile lit up his thin, pinched face as he struggled to exclaim:
"I can see myself with Christ— with my Redeemer— there where He is! I have finished my course. Henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteousness!"
Deeply moved, the visitor departed. At first his heart was greatly disturbed: but now he was filled with praise and thanksgiving, knowing that the poor (but now rich!) shoemaker had entered the presence of the One who died for all that believe "That, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him."
END