PAUL was a boy of twelve who lived with his family in Illinois. Although devoted to his studies at school, he was fond of adventure.
One bright morning three schoolboys decided to go fishing instead of going to classes, and they succeeded in persuading Paul to join them. Paul had never played hooky in his life, and he knew it was wrong, but he finally decided to go. They had a good time swimming and fishing until the day was almost over. Paul’s mind was very uneasy, for how could he meet his father’s eye again with the honest, frank look he had always given him? He looked forward to it with dread. He knew that he would be punished severely, but what he felt most of all was that he would lose his father’s confidence. He knew that his brother Charlie must have told his parents that he was not at school that day.
Before leaving his friends, a boy named Tom Jones suggested Paul go home and get some of his clothes and other articles to go on a tramp trip to the “wild west,” the land of the cowboys and the “home of the buffalo.” When Paul got home he slipped cautiously through a window and into his room, where he packed up a few articles. His heart almost failed him when he thought of his family’s surprise to discover his disappearance. So he wrote a few lines and put the note on the kitchen table. He wrote: “Dear Father: I go West tonight with Tom Jones taking nothing with me but a few things of my own and the clothes on my back... Paul.”
Soon Paul and Tom were on their way to the West. After walking until midnight they came to a log hut, and Tom said, “Here is the first station on our route, and we will camp here for the night.” To Paul this first night out seemed wonderfully romantic, as they made a campfire. After eating a few potatoes, they went to sleep in the hut.
I need not go back to Paul’s home to tell of the sorrow and anxiety there when his family discovered that their dear boy had run away.
Paul didn’t realize how much they all loved him, and now that he was gone it seemed their love went out to him more than ever.
It so happened that an officer of a small town where the boys were camping saw smoke coming out of the chimney of the hut and went over to see who was there. He arrived just as Tom and Paul were about to take up their march again. That was the end of their trip to the wild West. The boys were restored to their parents, and we can well imagine their joy in seeing the young prodigals back home again. Paul had learned his lesson and never again did he run away from home.
How many boys and girls, and older folks too, are trying to run away from God. They know not how great and fathomless is that love that goes out to them, nor do they realize how His heart yearns over the wanderers and how He longs to receive them back and make them His dear children. The Lord Jesus told His disciples in John 16:2727For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. (John 16:27), “The Father Himself loveth you.”
But the poor prodigal we read about in Luke 15 did not appreciate his father’s love and goodness. Not until he had gone to the far country where he wasted his substance with riotous living, not until there arose a mighty famine and he ban to be in want, did he begin to think of his father’s house. But when he arose and came to his father, O what a welcome he got! and what a feast was spread for him!
If the reader of this little paper is still a wanderer from the Father’s face, we urge you to get back to God right now. You will be surprised at the welcome you will get from Him who loves you, who sent His beloved Son to die on the cross for your sins, and who has a Home prepared in heaven for you.
ML-08/01/1971