The engineer brought his train to a standstill at a small town in Massachusetts. A lady hurried along on the platform to his cab and said: "The conductor tells me that the train at the next junction leaves a few minutes before our arrival. This is Saturday, and that is the last train from there today. I have a very sick child in the coach and no money for an overnight stay at the hotel. Nor could I pay for a private conveyance to go so far across country. What shall I do?”
“Well, I wish I could tell you," said the engineer. "Would it be possible for you to hurry a little?”
“Why, madam, I have a train schedule and the railroad rules. I must run according to them.”
She sorrowfully turned away, leaving the tenderhearted engineer feeling quite upset. Presently she returned and said to him: "Are you a Christian?”
"Indeed I am," was his prompt reply.
"Then will you pray with me that the Lord will in some way hold that train at the junction till we get there?”
“Why, yes, I will. But I don't have much faith it'll be there!”
Just then the conductor cried, "All aboard!" The poor mother hurried back to her sick child and the train gathered speed for its climb up a steep grade.
“Somehow or other," said the engineer, "everything worked like a charm. As I prayed I couldn't help letting out my engine. We stopped at the first station for scarcely a minute and then away we went again. Once over the summit it was easy to give her a little more. The more I prayed, the more steam was let on. We seemed fairly to shoot through the air. Somehow I just couldn't hold her! Knowing I had a clear road I let her go and we dusted up to the junction six minutes ahead of schedule. There stood the other train and the conductor with his lantern on his arm.”
“Will you tell me," said he, "what I am waiting for? Somehow I felt I must wait till you came tonight; but I don't know why!”
“I guess," said his brother-conductor, "it is for this woman. She has a very sick child with her, and is very anxious to get him home tonight.”
But the Christian engineer and the grateful mother knew why the train waited. God had answered their prayer.
Dear soul out of Christ, God's "Gospel Train" too is waiting—waiting for you to accept the Savior's "All aboard" and become His passenger to the realms of eternal bliss. Your ticket is paid for—"bought with a price," the blood of Jesus. Your seat is reserved—"kept through the power of God." And God's "Gospel Train" will bear you safely all the way to your happy destination—the Father's house.
Jesus said: "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." Will you not claim His promise now and cast yourself upon Him?
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”