MY dear young friends. I would like to tell you of an event that happened come time ago, which plunged a Christian family into the deepest sorrow. It occurred in a town in France, and as I recount it, I want you to see the consequences that may follow disobedience to parents.
It happened on a hot day, the 18th of last July. Mr. J. started out with his son, who was then sixteen years old. He was a good, intelligent youth, very fond of work. They were going to a village quite a, distance from the town where they lived.
The father’s object in going to this place was to preach the gospel to the people in the village, as the priest had been removed some time before. This circumstance had led our friend to think and hope a favorable time had come to speak to these friends of the love of God, towards poor sinners, for these poor people were plunged in darkness.
From the railroad station to the village, there was a distance of several miles. As they went on their way, the son said to his father, “Papa, what will you do to gather the people together so as to tell them of the love of God?”
The father answered, “Do not trouble yourself. When we are there, the Lord will arrange all.”
Alas! at that moment neither the one nor the other knew what means God was going to use to bring this about.
It surely brings before us Gen. 22:7, 87And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? 8And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. (Genesis 22:7‑8). Near the village where they were going was a deep river. This they crossed safely in a boat. It was one of the hottest days of the summer, and before going in to their repast, they wanted to refresh themselves by taking a bath. The father alone could swim, consequently he directed his son to a sandy spot where the water was shallow, and he could bathe without fear, as long as he remained in the spot he had directed him to. Unhappily he did not do so. The sand felt so delightful under his feet, that he allowed himself to go on and on, unmindful of his danger, getting nearer and nearer to the inclined plane, at the end of the sand bar. The sand yielded under his feet, the weight of his body, pushing him forward. In a short time the water was up to his chin. Seeing his danger, he cried to his father for help. At this moment his father was near the opposite shore. He heard his son’s cry of distress, and agony, and swam as quickly as possible to help him. But the current was against him, for it was a mill stream. The poor father could not reach his son from behind, as he intended. He knew full well that drowning persons always clutch at any object near them. This he tried to avoid, so that his movements might not he impeded, but unhappily, instead of taking him as he intended, he was driven by the current face to face with his son. The poor boy seized both his father’s arms as he stretched them out to swim. Instantly his movements were paralyzed, and both went to the bottom. The father did not lose consciousness, and with a tremendous effort, both came to the top of the water, but only for a moment, for the poor boy’s legs became entangled with those of his father’s, and both went down again. Then, my dear young friends, the poor father passed through the most agonizing time. There was no means for both to be saved, but by disentangling himself from the clutches of his son, who in all probability had ceased to breathe, the father reached the top of the water. The body of the unfortunate boy had disappeared for the current had carried him away, and the body was found two hours afterwards, a long distance from the scene of the accident. No one was near who could give a helping hand, and the heart rending accident occurred in less time than I am taking to tell you of it. The News soon spread through the community, tind in a short time many people gathered to the river’s edge to hear all about the fearful catastrophe. The father was pressed with questions, and, notwithstanding the anguish he was passing through, answered them, and told them of the love of God and the work of salvation accomplished by His Son, Jesus—and lastly, told them of his hope for the future of the one who was no more, and also of his own. The funeral took place two days afterwards, the 20th of July. It was held at 12 o’clock, but even at 11, a number of persons were already gathered in the cemetery. Everything went on in a quiet, orderly manner, not a sound was heard. The village people sympathized deeply with the afflicted family. The word of God was read, and the gospel of the grace of God was presented to this crowd of people, who listened with deep respect. Old men wept, as they listened to the good news. A large number of the Gospel of John were given away. Tracts were distributed, and accepted with eagerness. Twelve days after, a stone was placed on the grave, with this full and beautiful passage on it, John 3:16,16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) “God so loved the word that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Many from the village near the scene of the catastrophe came; also, many from other places, and it was the occasion of again speaking from the word of God in 2 Cor. 5:1-81For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 5Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 6Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:1‑8). Again there was profound attention. After that, the way was opened to speak to them in private and many listened with pleasure.
‘Now, my dear young friends, what will be the result of all this seed sown?’ God, only knows. He alone can give the increase and reach the heart through the word, but I want to call your attention to the means God used to accomplish the deep desire in the father’s heart. Surely we can say, “God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform.”
What deep sorrow it caused,. yet, can we not hope it brought glory to God? and that, through it, He accomplished His purposes of love, in that place.
Dear young friends, may this sad event show you again the need of being prepared to leave this world at any moment.
May I ask you, are you ready? Had you seen that dear, boy start out, his new hat on his head so happy to have a ride, full of youthful spirits, seeming like a bird on wings, and yet Death so ready to catch his powerless victim.
Oh! dear young friends, can you affirm positively that Death is not near you? Is it wise to put off your salvation? His word is, “Today if ye hear His voice, harden not your hearts.”
Our young friend, Louis, for some time before his death, had seemed more serious, often asking questions on the word of God, and often showing signs of a work of God in his soul. His conduct was exemplary. When his drawing Master heard of his death, he said, “I have lost my best pupil.”
May this simple story of an event that caused so many tears, be used of God to bring you to a sense of your danger, and may all who read it, be led to the precious Saviour.
“Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” This is the earnest wish and prayer of the writer.
Messages of God’s Love 8/23/1908