In Ohio years ago there was a young Christian man who had an earnest desire to spread far and wide the glory of the Saviour he sought to serve. He was highly educated, a gentleman in tastes and character, and aglow with love for Christ and souls.
One day when he and another Christian were walking down the street, they came upon a pitiful figure of a young fellow, scarcely more than a teen-ager, who was drunk. Dirty and ragged, he was a typical human derelict.
Startled, the young Christian exclaimed, “Who is that?”
“Oh,” said his companion, “he is only a ‘hitching post'—the town bum.”
Instantly there was born in that young Christian man’s heart a great desire to see that young man saved and become a respectable citizen. Laying his hand on the derelict’s shoulder he said, “My friend, come home and have dinner with me today.”
Too intoxicated to refuse and attracted by the kindness in the young Christian’s voice, the youth consented. Taking his arm the Christian led him home. His other Christian companion, somewhat disgusted, went off in another direction.
“Helen, I have brought a guest for dinner,” said the young Christian as he introduced the poor degraded youth to his wife. While she was setting an extra place at the table, her husband helped the young derelict clean up and change into some of his own clothes.
The experience had an electrifying effect on the young fellow. It was a new experience to sit down to a clean white linen and to look into the face of a beautiful Christ-like young woman.
After a good meal while Helen cleared the table, the two retired to a quiet corner to talk. Drawing his chair up to his guest who was now sober, the Christian poured out his heart saying, “I am going to introduce you to a precious Friend of mine—One who has helped me over life’s rough roads and who will help you. He will take away all your sin and guilt, and fill your life with new desires and new hopes. He will give you the power to live a clean and useful life.”
As he talked on, the young fellow’s eyes filled with tears. Never before had he been treated so kindly. He knew he had never wanted, and so had never met, this Friend—Jesus Christ as his Saviour.
Twenty-five years passed. One day the Christian man was called to the same Ohio town to a Christian conference. He accepted an invitation to dinner and found himself guest in the home of a business man who introduced his lovely wife and three beautiful daughters.
Then his host said, “Do you remember your experience with a young prodigal whom they called ‘the hitching post’ when you were in this town years ago?”
“Oh yes,” returned the guest, “and I have often wondered what became of him.”
His host’s eyes filled with tears as he said, “I am the ‘hitching post,’ and he went on to tell of what the grace of God had done for him, how the Lord had saved him and lifted him out of the awful life he was leading. Old things had passed away, and all things had become new in Christ Jesus.
ML-11/11/1979