How the Bank Clerk Escaped
A Christian who lived near a large city secured for his son a position in one of the banks.
His father gave him the following good advice as he was leaving home for his situation on Monday morning;
“My dear boy, I want you to be obedient, civil, and respectful to all who are about you. Be very attentive to your business, and above all, remember the text that has hung so long in your bedroom,
‘Thou God seest me.’”
He thanked his father for his good advice, and promised to follow it. He began his work earnestly, and kept on. with ii faithfully. The officers of the bank all thought a great deal of him. By degrees he rose to be head clerk in the bank.
The key of the safe, in which the money dud valuable papers were kept, was left in his charge. It was his duty before leaving the bank at the close of the day, to see that all the money was safely put way, and the safe locked.
One day an acquaintance of this young man’s told him that he knew of an opportunity of investing $5,000 in a way that, was entirely safe, and by which he would be sure to make a good deal of money.
The young man thanked him, and said he had not that much money to invest, and so could not take advantage of this opportunity. But after he had gone he was tempted to take $5,000 out of the bank, when no one was there, and put it back by and by, and so he would never be found out.
At first he resisted this temptation, but, after struggling for a while against it, he gave way to it, and made up his mind. that he would take the money.
This young man’s mother was an earnest Christian. When her boy was growing up she tried to fix in his mind that God was present with him in every place.
She got a beautifully illuminated card, with this Scripture on it,
“THOU GOD SLEET ME,” and hung it up in his bedroom, so that he might see it the last thing at night and the first thing in the morning.
At the close of the day of which we are telling, when he was left alone in the bank, before leaving he went into the safe and picked up a parcel containing $5,000, which he intended to take away.
But he had no sooner taken up the parcel than, in a moment, that Scripture in his bedroom came into his mind, and came with delivering power,
“THOU GOD SEEST ME.”
Instantly the parcel dropped from his hands. He knelt down on the floor, and prayed with great earnestness,
“O my mother’s God, save me from this great sin.”
God heard his prayer and delivered him. He put back the money, and locked the safe.
Then he went to the president of the bank and told him about it, and asked to be dismissed.
The president was a wise and good man. He said, “No, my young friend, you keep your position. The thought of God’s presence which has kept you from sinning now, will always keep you. You go on doing your duty as you have done, and all will be right. I will never say a word without this to anyone.”
“Be sure your sin will find you out.” What makes this sure is the presence of God.
“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” Proverbs 15:3.
ML 12/22/1940