"But all through the mountains, thunder-riven,
And up from the rocky steep,
There arose a cry to the gates of heaven,
`Rejoice, I have found my sheep!'
And the angels echoed around the throne,
`Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own'!”
From a rich baritone voice came the song ringing out on the frosty air of the late October morning, and the hills and valley, catching the words and melody, sent back in triumphant echo—"Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own.”
Around a bend of one of the hillside roads appeared the singer, tall and strong, carrying in his arms the sheep he had spent the hours of night searching. The animal was trembling with cold. The man looked at it with a smile, saying, "You poor sheep, why did you wander away? Did you think the rocks and the stones on the bleak hills were more nourishing than the green grass in the valley? Did you think you were safer among the wolves than with your comrades in the sheepfold? Why did you turn your back on your shepherd who never turned his back on you?”
Here he paused as he discovered a man standing near one of the buildings, a young man, showing plainly the marks of dissipation and riotous living. He looked him over and then asked:
"Who are you?”
"What, me? I am nobody."
"Where are you from?"
"Everywhere.”
"Where are you bound for?"
"Anywhere.”
"Where do you belong?"
"Nowhere.”
"Do you want employment?”
"I would be glad of a job if I could only get away from my present boss, for whom I have worked faithfully for two years.”
"And, pray, who is your boss?"
"Satan.”
"Does he pay you good wages?”
"Good wages? No; big wages? Yes."
"What kind of wages?”
"Hunger enough for a dozen men. Rags, desolation, shattered nerves, ruined character and a burning appetite for the thing that wrought my ruin.”
The shepherd dropped his head in deep thought and said to himself: "I've spent half the night in trying to rescue a four-legged sheep. Dare I drive this two-legged one from my door, and make no effort to rescue him?" Looking up he said to the tramp: "You look to me as if you could eat some breakfast; how about it?”
The young man was evidently moved by the kindness of the tone of voice in which the invitation was given. He straightened up and said: "Thank you, sir, I am very hungry, but I am not deserving of such kindness.”
"Young man," was the reply, "I never turned a hungry man from my door, and with the Lord's help, I never will, so long as my name is Robert West." At mention of the name the young man gave him a startled look and turned pale. Bracing up he said, "I appreciate your kindness and accept your invitation gratefully.”
After putting the sheep in the fold with the others, he led the young man up to the house where Mrs. West stood in the doorway to greet her husband, of whose coming she knew when she heard a half hour before the welcome news, "Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!" ringing out through the valley. After both men had washed, they sat down to the table on which was a tempting breakfast. Robert West very reverently asked the Lord's blessing before starting to eat.
While Mr. West gave his wife an account of his experiences in his search for the lost sheep, their guest ate his breakfast as only a hungry man can, yet with the manner of a gentleman. It was plain to be seen that he was thinking as well as eating, and thinking, too, with a purpose as tears trickled down his cheeks.
When the meal was over, Mr. West read from the fifteenth chapter of Luke the parable of the Lost Sheep and the Prodigal Son, and offered an earnest supplication for the wandering one. During the prayer the young man kneeling with the others, was deeply moved.
At the close when Robert West and his wife sang, "Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!" the wanderer sobbed aloud. As they finished singing, the young man arose and said, "By some strange chance I came to your door this morning, a prodigal, one who is a pauper, clothed in rags, a bankrupt in character, yet at your hospitable board you have treated me as an honored guest. Nearly two years ago I turned my back on a beautiful home, closing my ears to the appeal of a Christian father and mother, trying to drown the memory of their prayers, only to find myself at the end in another Christian home.
I learned to drink at college. I graduated with the highest honors, but gained a consuming appetite. Every effort of my dear parents and friends failed to break the chains that bound me until at last I fled from home, and from those who loved me most. For nearly two years I have tramped hither and thither, until this morning, when we were down on our knees, I confessed my sins and put my trust in Him, the Lord Jesus Christ, who promises 'to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him.' (Heb. 7:2525Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)). Sir, the desire of drink has left me, and He is able to keep me.
I said it was a strange chance that sent me to your door, but I was wrong, it was the Lord that guided my steps hither, and it was His will that you should bring back to the fold this wandering sheep, as well as the one you brought back earlier this morning. Do you wonder why? I think you will understand when I tell you that my name is Robert West Beatty.”
At the announcement of that name Mr. and Mrs. West, down whose cheeks the tears were falling, started in surprise, and Mr. West exclaimed: “Are you the son of my old college mate, Frederick Beatty?”
"I surely am," was the reply, "and my Father named me after you in memory of his college chum.”
"Then it was God who sent you here to enable me to pay a debt of gratitude I owe your father.”
"I never heard my father say anything about your owing him anything.”
"Probably not; listen now to my story: Fred Beatty and I entered college together and soon became friends. Like you and many another foolish young man I began drinking. One evening I returned to my rooms which your father and I shared together, showing plainly that I was under the influence of liquor.
Your father waited until the effect had passed off, and then if ever one man talked out of his heart and gripped the heart of another that man was Fred Beatty. We got down on our knees, and I took your father's Savior, as my Savior, and asked the Lord to help me give up drink. Through His mercy I have never touched another drop to this day. God helping me, I'll be as true to Fred's son as Fred was true to me!”
A great change came over Robert, he really sought to please the Lord and to grow in grace and in knowledge of Him. Mr. West gave him a home and employment.
Some months later, Robert West, unknown to Bob, as they decided to call him, sent a long letter to his old college chum, Frederick Beatty, asking him and his wife to pay them a visit. He wrote: "I have a fine flock of sheep. I spent nearly one whole night last October searching for one of them that went astray and before I got back to the house I found two sheep, the one that belonged to me and another one. I will give you that sheep.”
Early one morning two weeks later, Robert West drove to the station to meet Mr. and Mrs. Beatty, who had gratefully accepted his invitation. Just before they reached the house Mrs. West said to Bob: "Mr. West has gone to the station for a present for you, and I know you will like it. I want you to go to your room and remain there until I call you so we can get the present in the house and ready for you at the breakfast table.”
The company soon arrived and when the greetings were over, just as they were about to sit down to the table, Bob was heard coming down the stairs, and Robert West said: "Fred and Mary, here is the other sheep I found that October morning." As Bob opened the door, Mrs. West said to him, "Here is your present, Bob.”
Who can describe the joy of that reunion? The sheep that was lost was found.