WHAT a sad ring there is about that word LOST! What interest it awakens even in those who hither have had no interest in that which is lost. If it be an animal or an article, the interest varies according to the value the owner sets upon it. But if it be a child, and especially a little child, how intense that interest becomes; and how deep and genuine the sympathy for the sorrowing parents until the little one is found. If found alive how great the joy, and how hearty the congratulations to the parents. But if found dead how intense the grief; and how heartfelt the sympathy extended to the bereaved parents.
Such was the grief and sympathy which filled the inhabitants of the little village of Ashendon, in the county of Buckingham, last year—a grief and sympathy which will surely find an echo in the heart of everyone who hears the sad story.
A father and mother went out into the fields for harvest work, taking with them their family of seven little ones. When the mid-day meal was over the father made a ring of some sheaves, inside which he placed the baby and little “Tommy” (aged three) in charge of their eldest sister.
Somehow little “Tommy” managed to get out of the ring, and wandered away. As soon as he was missed search was made for him, but he could not be found. Policemen and kind friends joined in the search which was kept up till after dark with the aid of lanterns; but still little “Tommy” could not be found.
Next day the search was continued. Policemen were drafted in from other districts and neighbors poured in from other villages to join in the search, which continued day’ after day, but still little “Tommy” was not found.
At last, just one month after he was lost, his little body was accidentally found in a bean field, only about a quarter of a mile away from the place where he had been placed in the “ring” of sheaves, in apparent safety.
It makes one’s heart ache to think of the sufferings of that little darling, as no doubt he wandered about from day to day, crying, hungry, and thirsty. But his sufferings are all over now. His little soul is with Jesus, which is far better (Phil. 1:2323For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: (Philippians 1:23)); and we may well leave the child with Him who makes no mistakes, and of whom we shall yet be able to say in the fullest sense, “He hath done all things well” (Mark 7:3737And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak. (Mark 7:37)). We dare not question His wisdom, though we cannot understand His ways. It may be that He had a twofold purpose in taking this little one home to Himself. First, to save him from a life of sin and sorrow; and, second, to bring blessing to the souls of his father and mother, and those who loved him, by leading them to think of their own souls. Perhaps wider still―to bring blessing to your soul through reading this account of Tommy’s sad death.
Into the sorrow of the parents we cannot enter. None but those who have passed through similar circumstances can imagine what their feelings must have been, as day after day they searched for their little darling and found him not. But we are assured that they have the heartfelt sympathy of all our readers; and, we pray that God may be pleased to use it in everlasting blessing to their precious souls. He can bring good out of evil.
“God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform; He plants
His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.”
“What a sad story!” I can imagine my reader saying.
Yes, indeed, a very sad story; but only a faint picture of the still sadder story of how man became LOST.
In little “Tommy’s” case he was hardly to blame, being of such tender years. He little knew when he gained, his liberty that he was really LOST, and that unless somebody found him he would be lost forever, as far as his body was concerned. But in man’s case he is wholly and solely to blame. Just as Tommy’s father placed him in that “ring” of sheaves, where he should be safe and happy, so God placed man in safety and happiness in the Garden of Eden. But man was not satisfied with the circumstances in which God placed him, he wanted his liberty, so he “struck out for himself,” and got it; but the moment he got it he found he was LOST, and, worse still, that he was the slave of Satan who had so deceitfully captured him from God.
Solemn thought! Man is LOST. Who lost him? God. The God who loved him and cared for him. Did God feel the loss?
Feel the loss! From the moment man was lost God began to seek him, and for four thousand years did all He could to recover him from Satan; but man preferred to remain in his lost condition rather than turn to God and live.
Did God then give him up altogether?
No! God valued him too much; and He was determined to prove to the whole universe (including Satan) that He loved man.
How do you know that God valued man so much? By the fact that He parted with the dearest object of His heart in order to save him. Listen!
Had His Majesty the King sent his eldest son, the Prince of Wales, to join in the search for little “Tommy” it would have been rightly considered kindness indeed. But think of God—the one against whom we had rebelled, sending His only begotten Son, not only to seek us, but to save us by dying on the cross. Surely this is love indeed: “the great love wherewith he loved us” (Eph. 2:44But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (Ephesians 2:4)). “God commendeth his love toward us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:88But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)).
It may have been that some of the searchers came very near to little Tommy before he died, but being too exhausted he could not make them hear, and so they passed by.
God has come very near you in this little paper. Beware lest He hear not your voice, not because of your weakness, for the weakest cry will He hear, but because of your will. If there is only the faintest desire in your heart He will meet it at once. It does not need a long prayer, or a strong cry to reach His ear. The shortest prayer that we read in the Bible was that uttered by Peter as he was sinking. He had not the time to say much, but he said what he felt. He said. “Lord, save me.” How long did he wait before the answer came? Not a moment! For “immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him” (Matt. 14:30, 3130But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? (Matthew 14:30‑31)). Peter was saved at once. And you too can be saved this moment, for the Word of God tells us that “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:1313For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13)).
“But if you still His call refuse,
And all His wondrous love abuse;
Soon will He sadly from you turn,
Your bitter prayer for pardon spurn.
Too late! too late! will be your cry,
Jesus of Nazareth has passed by.”
T. C. M.