James had been brought up in a well-to-do family. He had everything he could desire, but he soon learned to love the pleasures of the world. Sinking deeper and deeper into sin, he decided to leave home and have his fling in the world. He joined a company of minstrels, known as the "Ethiopian Serenaders." With hands and faces blackened, and dressed in grotesque costumes, they traveled around the country.
One day they took their stand outside a shop. In the window were some Bibles for sale. After they had sung several comic songs, James stepped forward and offered his tambourine as a collection plate.
The shop-keeper took a Bible from the window and said, "See here, young man! I will give you a dollar and this Book, if you will read a portion of it outside, among your fellows, in the hearing of the bystanders.”
"Here's a dollar for an easy job!" shouted James to his mates. "I'm going to give a `public reading'!”
The shop-keeper opened the book at the fifteenth chapter of Luke's gospel, and, pointing to the eleventh verse, requested the young man to begin.
"Now, Jim, speak up," said one of his companions, "and earn your dollar like a man!” James began, "A certain man had two sons: and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.”
"That's you, Jim," exclaimed one of the company. "It's just like what you told us about yourself and your father.”
Controlling his feelings, James read slowly on. "And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land, and he began to be in want.”
"Why, that's you again, Jim!" said the voice. "Go on!”
"And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks which the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.”
"That's just like us all!" interrupted the voice. "We're all beggars; go on and let's hear what became of it!” The young man was scarcely able to read, but with quivering lips he continued, "And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father.”
This was sufficient; he could read no more. Thoughts of home sprang up in the man's heart: the servants there, all having enough; and then himself, his father's son, his present state, his outcast condition, all constrained him to say: "I will arise and go to my father." He went; and oh, what a welcome he got!
Thank God, the story does not end here, for Jim rested not until he knew that not only had his father received him, but that God, too, found His delight in receiving and blessing him. I wonder, dear reader, if you have got away from home, away from God. If so, let me tell you, in love to your soul, that God is waiting to receive you back. Oh, think of the manner in which the heart of God has been expressed to poor, wretched man in the gift of Jesus! He has died, "the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.”
He Himself says, "Come; for all things are now ready."
What a blessed invitation! And what a blessed Savior is waiting to receive you! He wants to save you; He has died to save you.