A TERRIBLE blizzard was raging over the eastern part of the States, making more and more difficult the progress of a train that was slowly facing its way along.
Among the passengers was a woman with a child, who was much concerned lest she should not get off at the right station. A gentleman, seeing her anxiety, said:
“Do not worry. I know the road well, and I will tell you when you come to your station.”
In due course the train stopped at the station before the one at which the woman wanted to get off.
“The next station will be yours, ma’am,” said the gentleman.
Then they went on, and in a few minutes the train stopped again.
“Now is your time, ma’am; get out quickly,” he said.
The woman took up her child and, thanking the gentleman for his kindly interest, left the train.
At the next stop, to his surprise and alarm, the brakeman called out the name of the station where the woman had wished to get off.
“You have already stopped at this station!” called the gentleman to the official.
“No, sir,” he replied, “something was wrong with the engine, and we stopped for a few moments to repair it.”
“Alas!” cried the passenger, “I have put that woman off in the storm when the train stopped between stations!”
Afterwards they found her with her child in her arms. Both were frozen to death. It was the terrible and tragic consequence of wrong direction being given.
Still more terrible are the results of misdirecting the souls of men. Yet it must be evident to all that amid the babel of contradictory voices which are heard today, many of the directions given must be false and misleading, even when given by well-meaning men. All cannot be true.
We should then, one and all, be on our guard against being misdirected for eternity. It is all too solemn to rest on uncertainties with such an important matter as our soul’s salvation, and as to where we shall spend eternity—in heaven, or in hell? It must be one of the two places.
Thank God, there is no need for us to depend upon doubtful counsel. In His own sure Word, He has Himself given the plainest directions as to the way to heaven. The way He indicates is not the way of “doing our best,” or of “observing the golden rule,” or of “trying to be good.”
We are assured, at the outset, that none of these ways will lead us to heaven. We have, all of us, wandered too far astray from God, for any such directions to help us.
The Word of God points to Christ as the only way. He suffered at Calvary, not merely as a martyr, but as a Sin-bearer, making atonement by His blood. Now that He is risen from the dead, He is proclaimed to all as the Object of faith. The way to have blessing for the present, and glory for eternity, lies in trusting Him.
The Scripture says, “To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name, whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.” (Acts 10:4343To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43).) Could words be plainer?
The course of true wisdom is to give heed to the sure directions of the Word of God, and thus escape the awful peril of being misdirected.
ML 07/08/1917