While I was a youngster in a mill town of the South many years ago, one of my playmates was a small Negro lad known by his white companions as "Black Joe." Many were the good times we had together. Little Joe generally was along and figured prominently in most of our escapades.
I remember so well "hog-killing" time. Black Joe was always present and enjoyed the season along with his white friends. In the spring, "marbles for keeps" and egg rolling occupied us. Summer brought the gang to the old swimming hole where Joe proved to be excellent in our diving contests.
Many years have passed since those days of simple pleasures. One morning lately, while reading the old home paper, I was attracted by an article with bold headlines:
"CAT BURGLAR STILL AT LARGE"
The city was being terrorized by someone with exceedingly sly, cat-like movements. Every effort made by the authorities to trap him had been cleverly evaded, and the situation had continued for some weeks.
Late one evening, true to the word of the ever living God, "Be sure your sin will find you out" (Num. 32:2323But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out. (Numbers 32:23)), a Negro man was seen furtively entering a residence. The alarm, quickly sounded, was answered immediately and a bloody fight followed.
Later that night the "Cat Burglar" was no longer at large. The seriously wounded black man was carried, under guard, to the local hospital.
On reading of the wounding and capture of the criminal, I was struck by the name Joe Davis. Could he possibly be my former playmate, Black Joe? It was only a few miles to the hospital where he was being held, and I decided to go and inquire.
I was told I must receive permission from the police before entering the room. This was finally granted through the Chief of Police (with whom I am personally acquainted) and I was allowed to enter the prisoner's room.
There he lay, motionless, his face turned toward the wall. I approached his bed and softly called his name. He painfully turned his head and opened his eyes. I repeated his name, my name, and the name of our little town, over again and he 'recognized me. It was Joe!—little Black Joe, my friend!
"Joe," I said softly, though his eyes were now closed, "If I had seen you ten years ago I could have told you then of the Savior's love. I might have been the instrument used by God to have saved you from this terrible condition; for by His grace I have known the Lord Jesus Christ's saving and keeping power for the last fifteen years.
"Joe, will you accept Jesus as your Savior—now? He can save you from your guilt and sins just as His blood washed away the sins of the dying thief on the cross because he believed. You are in a critical condition and soon may pass into eternity. Won't you trust in that blood of Calvary, shed for sinners such as you and me? Then you will be ready to go to be with Him in the glory above."
I took his hand in mine and waited. With tears coursing down his cheeks, he opened his eyes for a moment and I caught a feeble murmur from his lips.
"I do—I do trust Him."
Kneeling at Joe's side I prayed to our Savior, thanking Him for saving such sinners as Joe and me and praising Him for His wondrous grace and love.
We parted—never to meet again on earth. But, praise His name, through faith and mutual belief in the cleansing power of Jesus' blood, Joe and I shall meet in the glory.
Dear reader, do you know Christ as your Savior? You may say, "I'm no thief." No, but you are a sinner. God has declared that "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23).
There is nothing that can save a sinner but the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Trust Him today and then, like the eunuch of old, you may go on your way rejoicing. (See Acts 8:3939And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. (Acts 8:39)).