It was a sad day for Mrs. Wilson when her husband died, and yet she knew and trusted in the Lord Jesus, and asked Him for the strength to carry on and bring up the family. She had seven daughters and one son, and it was her earnest prayer that they might all grow up to love and serve the Lord Jesus. One by one, each of the girls came to the Saviour, but Charles would not listen. He wanted his own way, and he left home to seek for pleasure away from his mother, and his mother’s God.
Just before he left home, his mother bought a fine Bible, and wrote his name in the front. Then, with much prayer and many tears, she gave Charles the Bible and urged him to read it daily, and to accept Jesus for his Saviour, Charles said nothing, but put the Bible in his bag and. walked away.
Some time later she received a letter telling her that he had a ship’s company and was leaving on a voyage. Then the anxious months went by, and she heard nothing more.
About a year later, she heard, through other sailors, that Charles’ ship was wrecked, and all on board were lost.
“And what of my son Charles?” asked the frantic mother.
“Charles Wilson? Sure I knew him,” replied the sailor with a sad lack of feeling for the widow’s sorrow. “He was a bad one, that man.”
Poor Mrs. Wilson. She had loved her wayward son, and had prayed and done what she could to bring him to Jesus, and now this was the end of it all. Charles was drowned, and he was lost forever!
Two years went by, and another sailor could be seen knocking at her door. Always interested in tales of the sea, she sat and listened while he told of his adventures.
“Once,” said the sailor, “with only one companion we escaped from a shipwreck. He and I were landed on an island and at the end of seven days I had the painful duty of burying him.” Here the tears ran down the eyes of both the widow and the sailor. “He was constantly reading a little book that his mother had given him, and it was the only thing he had rescued from the waves. He wept for his sins, he prayed, and he clasped the book to his heart. He told me that his mother had prayed and urged him to take Jesus as his Saviour before he left home, and there on that island, he simply owned his sin to Jesus and trusted to Him for salvion. Just before he died, he gave me the book, and said, ‘Here, Jack. Take this and read it, and may it be used of the Lord to save your soul, as it has saved mine.’ Then he squeezed my hand, and died in peace.”
With trembling and hope, the widow reached for the book, and there sure enough she saw the very Bible she had given to her wayward Charles so long ago. There was her own writing in the front, and the tears of thankfullness and joy began to flow, her prayers had been answered, and Charles was in heaven!
Boys and girls, the bible is God’s message of love to your heart. Read it —believe it —and trust in the Saviour of whom it speaks. Then, “'Though your sins he as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” Isaiah 1:1818Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18).
ML 10/07/1951