“DOMINE, if you have a little time to spare, I wish you’d look over the papers in my strong box.”
The words were low, for the voice was weak from old age and long illness. Room F, in the Home for Aged Men, was about to lose the peaceful face that had greeted the minister time and again with a smile of heavenly cheer.
Stephen Holloway had lost almost everything in life, except his good name, his memory, and faith in God. His dear ones had died, his money was lost, his eyesight had failed, and his legs had long refused to support his trembling body. Nevertheless, when the minister was in need of special stimulus, he would drop in to have a talk with Uncle Stephen. This low-spoken allusion to a “strong box” startled him. It could not be that this venerable saint, so long an object of charity, had been hoarding unsuspected resources. Or was his keen, alert brain at last failing him?
The minister, Mr. Alton, bent tenderly over his old friend. “You know I’m rich, Domine,” went on his feeble voice. The minister thought, “Ah, his mind has suddenly given way.”
“As rich! as rich!” continued Uncle Stephen, his tones growing clearer and clearer, “As rich as the Lord Jesus Christ!”
His patient old face was suddenly illuminated. Mr. Alton said kindly, “You have all of my time you need; where is your strong box?”
“Why, there,” replied the old man, smiling and pointing to the large leather-bound Bible on the stand. “Please take it and sit down a few minutes. When I was in business years ago, and making money, I had a strong box for my valuable documents and specie. There were no safe deposit vaults then, and I kept, the box in my closet, and was much worried about burglars. But since I had this box the Lord gave me, I have no trouble with it — the key is faith — and it is hidden so deep in my heart, the enemy cannot find it.”
The minister had seated himself, with the great time-worn book on his knee.
“Now,” said Uncle Stephen, “we’ll look over
The Documents
a little. I cannot see them with my eyes, but I know them by heart. The first in the bundle I never tire thinking about. You see, Domine, many years ago I lived under a good King that I did not love, but rebelled against Him, trying to hinder His cause and hurt His kingdom. I was very rebellious. Finally, I was arrested, and put into a dark dungeon, and while there I found I was under the sentence of death. I wept and repented, but the dungeon was just as dark as ever, and death staring in my eyes, when a messenger from the King came up, bringing
A Paper Signed and Sealed
Mr. Alton read the familiar words: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
“Then,” said the old man, “after I was a free man, and had promised to serve the King, He accepted me in His own glorious family, and
The Paper was Drawn Up
The minister turned the leaves with a glow in his soul, and read: “Ye have received the Spirit of Adoption, whereby we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’”
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,” read Mr. Alton.
“That’s the
Accident Policy,”
Life Assurance.”
“Whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die.” Mr. Alton’s voice had caught the ring of triumph of the aged conqueror on the bed.
“Bless the Lord!” cried Uncle Stephen. “Now let me hear the third. It’s marked 2 Peter 3:12, 1312Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (2 Peter 3:12‑13).” Somehow the solemn words had never seemed so real to Mr. Alton before, as he read slowly to his friend: “Looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless, we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
“I hope I am not keeping you too long,” said Uncle Stephen, “but I must have you glance at
The Will
there. You can see that the King’s Son died, and made a will in my favor. Oh, glory to God! Just think of it, Domine. You may glance over the items — ‘Peace I leave with you,’ and ‘I will send a Comforter.’ Oh, Parson Alton, do you think I am so foolish as to have all that and far more left to me, and not claim it and rejoice in it? Then there’s
A Deed goes with the Will.
It is John 14:22In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2).” With eyes full of tears the minister repeated, “In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”
“For me! For me!! Oh, bless His glorious Name forever!” There was an eloquent silence. “And now there are a lot of blessed shares in the box.
I’m a big Stockholder.
Some are marked ‘Partakers of Christ’s suffering,’ ‘of the inheritance of the Saints in light.’ Just lay that treasure box, on the bed with me. Too heavy? No, it’s heavy only with the ‘eternal weight of glory.’ It is not much matter about the eyes, is it? Nor the old bones, nor lying awake nights. Millionaires do not care when they are away for a night if things are not just as they are at home. Goodbye, Domine. Come again.”
Uncle Stephen sank back on his pillows, weary but radiant, and the minister went down the street singing to himself―
“O child of God. O glory’s heir. How rich a lot is thine.”