An Ocean steamer slowly kit her moorings at Mavisbank Quay on the River Clyde and steamed away on her voyage across the Atlantic, amid the waving of handkerchiefs of her passengers on deck, to their friends on shore. As the steamer ploughed her way through the deep sea toward the last port of call on the Irish coast, the passengers on deck were startled by a loud cry. Turing in the direction from whence the sound came they saw a sailor leading, a ragged, grimy lad by the collar of. his jacket. The lad was crying pitifully for the sailor had threatened to throw him overboard into the sea.
The lad was brought before the captain who asked his name and questioned him about his parents and 'his home. Wiping the tears from his face with the sleeve of his ragged jacket, the lad, amid his sobs said, "My mother is dead, my father drinks, and I have no home. He said that as he wandered along the side of 1hr river looking at the ships he remembered he had a big brother in Canada who might befriend him. He crept on board during the darkness and hid himself away in the hold of the vessel until hunger brought him from his hiding place. When the captain heard his story he shook his head and said he must be put ashore at the last port of call on the Irish coast and find his way to Glasgow as best he could. When the poor lad heard this, he burst again into tears arid cried, "Oh, you must take me to my brother in Canada, and I’ll pay you for my passage when 1 get work out there." As this proposal could not be accepted, the stowaway was told that he must go ashore.
Among the passengers who heard the poor lad's story was a Canadian farmer who had been on a visit to Scotland, the land of his birth, and was returning to his home in the province of Ontario. Moved with compassion for the destitute lad, he told the captain that if he thought the stowaway's story was true, he would pay his fare and, if possible, find him a home on the other side. Others who heard of this kind man's generosity contributed toward providing the lad with clothes, and, before the Irish port was reached at which he was to be cast ashore, the stowaway was registered as a passenger. Clad in other garments, he looked like a different lad, and he manifested his gratitude to the one who had helped him in acts of willing service during the voyage.
In many respects this poor stowaway resembles us all. Without Christ and having no hope in the world, or title to heaven beyond, many seek to "work their passage" to that fair country—but this God will never allow (Titus 3:5,5Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5)) All who reach heaven to join their saved friends who have gone before, must enter there as "redeemed . . with the precious blood of Christ." 1 Peter 1:18, 1918Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1 Peter 1:18‑19). Blessed be God, the price has been paid for all who as sinners claim the Saviour.
Thirty-eight years later, a man was addressing a group of people in the city of Glasgow. The speaker was the stowaway lad of that earlier day on board the trans-Atlantic steamer. Having accepted the Lord Jesus as his Saviour after reaching Canada, he had known Him for many years. Now he had come to visit the place of his birth and to seek out some who had begun life in lowly paths with himself. He said,
"I am reminded, as I stand here tonight, of the days of my boyhood in these very scenes. I know these courts and lanes. I have slept under these arches and wandered along the banks of that river—a poor, homeless lad, without God in the world. But His eye was upon me—He loved me, although I knew it not. God' raised up friends for me in the day of my distress, and what I praise Him for most of all—He revealed His Son to my soul as the Saviour. I have known His salvation, proved His power, and enjoyed His care for thirty-three years, and I feel it to be one of the greatest privileges of my life to testify the gospel of the grace of God in the place where I spent my boyhood."
How wonderful are the ways of God and how mighty is His grace! The gospel still works its wonders and all who, in whatever sphere commit themselves to and welcome its saving grace and power, are drawn from the pit, their feet set on a Rock, a new song put in their mouths, and their goings established in the narrow way to heaven.
Messages of the Love of God 6/8/1952