Ruth Aberle was lost in the hilly, heavily timbered country east of her home. Starting out from Kelso, Washington, a group of young people—Ruth among them—had set out in search of greenery for holiday decorations. In the course of the afternoon Ruth became separated from the others. They soon realized that she was not with them, and with growing alarm they began to search. Ruth was not to be found.
At last they returned to Kelso and reported the missing girl. A massive search was begun immediately, for night was drawing on, snow was falling and the temperature was dropping fast. Four hundred persons united their efforts to locate the missing one. Bloodhounds were brought in, and every help possible was employed to continue the search. After 96 hours, hope of her survival in the rugged wilderness was abandoned by most of the searchers; only her mother would not give up hope of her safe return.
Finally a farmer and his son, searching independently of the main group, saw a young woman crossing a clearing near an abandoned cabin. They called, “Are you Ruth Aberle?”
For a moment she was speechless with joy. When she was able to speak she said simply, “Yes! Will you take me home?”
The signal was quickly given that the lost one was found, and with rejoicing she was transported to Kelso to her overjoyed parents. Ruth thanked all who had devoted their time and energy to the search, and she thanked God too.
Telling her story afterwards, she said that when she became separated from her party in the afternoon she had found an old logging road. Here she started walking in a direction that seemed to be right, not knowing that it was leading her further and further away from home and friends. On this she trudged for many miles until she reached a dilapidated cabin. Remembering lessons from a campfire group not to waste needed energy in fruitless wandering, she settled down in the cabin and waited to be found.
How many lessons we can learn from this little incident! First, Ruth was lost! Then she chose the way on the road which led her away from home and friends—a reminder that the Bible says that “there is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:1212There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12)).
This is the downward course that all of us by nature pursue, the broad way that leads to destruction. The end of this course is death, and after that the judgment, if we are not rescued from it by the Saviour’s grace during our life here.
Second, she knew she was lost and wasted no strength in vain efforts to save herself. She waited for deliverance, depending on the kindness and ability of others. How vain, and how often fatal, are the efforts of people to save themselves! We all need to realize that it is “not by works of righteousness which we have done” that salvation comes, but “according to His mercy He saved us” (Titus 3:55Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5)). Also we read, “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-98For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8‑9)).
Think of the labor and self-sacrifice and toil in that difficult country, amid wet and cold, on the part of those that searched for Ruth. But how this pales into utter insignificance in view of the sufferings of Christ! He, the holy One of God, came into a world of sin and suffering and sorrow and finally went to the cross of Calvary. There He gave His life that we might live—there He bore the judgment against sin that God in righteousness might set free the sinner who trusts Him.
The joy of Ruth Aberle’s deliverance reminds us of the joy over the lost one in Luke 15. We read, “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” If Ruth’s parents were overjoyed, how much greater is the joy of the Father’s heart over one repenting sinner! Have you given Him this joy? And have you, like Ruth, thanked your benefactor?
“Thanks be unto God for His
unspeakable gift.”
2 Corinthians 9:15