Jim and I were schoolmates, and bosom friends as well. We walked to and from school together for many a day, and after that we went to the Academy. What a lot of “castles in the air” we built during these walks. Sometimes we were to be soldiers, and go out to fight our country’s foes right and left. At other times we were to sail the stormy seas, and come back laden with riches from distant shores. I don’t think we ever took thought of dying, or anything of that kind. There was little said to young folks in these days about eternal things, in our circle at least. We went to church on Sundays, and that was about all.
During our second year at the Academy, a younger boy, the son of a farmer, accompanied us on the road. He was a few years younger than we were, and of a very quiet retiring nature. When. Jim and I were discussing our prospects, and planning for the future, he would listen with evident concern, and, smile. One day after we had carried our program forward for some ten or twenty years, Willie quietly asked—“What if you do not live so long as that?”
Jim looked at me, and I at him. We never had thought of that; never reckoned on the possibility of dying young at all. Willie saw we were brought to a halt, and quietly added, “It’s good to be ready to the anyhow; living or dying, the Christian has the best of it.”
We suddenly remembered that Willie’s father held meetings, and spoke to people about their souls, and I have no doubt, the devil stirred up the enmity of our natural hearts against the Gospel, and the simple but honest testimony of Willie, our converted school-fellow.
I laughed—I remember well the scoffing sneer—and ran on before, skipping and leaping, to show how strong and unlikely to die I was. Jim got very angry, clenched his fists, and said sonic very wicked things to Wille, who meekly bowed his head and said nothing.
This was the first time so far as I remember, when Eternity was brought before me, and like a fool, I thrust the thought of it from me. How many do so still, and tread with determined step, the road to death and hell.
Years passed on Jim and I were parted, he going to one city to learn his business, and I to another. Willie continued in the old country home with his father, and I believe bore a bright and steady testimony for Christ there.
Unknown to me, Jim had been converted, and so had I, unknown to Jim. We had both accepted Christ as our Saviour. I had often prayed for my old schoolmate, and wished I could find his whereabouts, that I might tell him of my new-found joy.
I was home for holidays, and now that I was saved and on my way to glory, I had a new way of spending them. There was to be a Conference, and I made up my mind to go, hoping I might either see or hear of Willie. I had not long taken my seat, when to my great delight he came and shook me warmly by the hand. He had heard of my conversion, and was longing to see me. Before we had spoken long, he asked,
“Have you seen Jim?”
“No” I said, “where is he?”
Taking me by the arm, he led me up to a seat near the platform, and there sat Jim, our old schoolmate and friend, by his sister’s side, Bible and hymn book in hand, his face beaming with joy, converted to God, and on his way to heaven too.
What a meeting that was to the three of us! How much we had to tell of the great deliverance grace had wrought for us. All saved and set free from Satan’s chains, to live for Christ and serve Him, in the golden days of youth. I can tell you, that when the hymn,
“O Happy day, that fixed my choice,
On Thee, my Saviour and my God,”
was given out, we stood there side by side and sang it with full hearts, and when our pilgrim days are done, we shall swell the song of redemption together up there before the throne.
Such is the story of God’s grace, dear boys and girls, to us who were schoolmates.
Is the one who saved us your Saviour? Do you know the joy of having Him as your own personal Deliverer and Friend? I can testify to this, that there is none like Him. None but Christ can fill the youthful heart with real joy and pleasure, and none but Christ can save the sinner from a godless life, a miserable death, and a lost eternity.
ML 04/17/1938