James was just a lad of fifteen when his mother died. She was a true child of God, and knew well that to be absent from the body was, for her, to be present with the Lord. But what about her boy, James? She was troubled about him, for she had prayed for his salvation all his life, and still saw no evidence of response.
Now as her end drew near she urged her son to kneel at her bedside and promise that he would meet her in heaven. With her last breath she then commended him, her Jimmy, to God, and sank quietly into eternal rest.
Of course James grieved for his mother, but youth and irresponsibility soon overcame his sorrow. In the reaction, he forgot her and her prayers. Worse still, he forgot her God! By the time he reached manhood James was a drunkard, and as wild in his ways as any of his companions. But his debauchery gave him no joy, no happiness. Only misery was his portion, and so despondent did he become that he decided that death would be better than life.
It was a short walk from his lodgings to the High Level Bridge over the river, and he paid the toll with the last money he possessed. He walked to the center of the bridge, and put his hands on the parapet in the act of climbing over. As he swung one leg up, a voice seemed to speak to his very soul: "After this the judgment.”
James quickly turned, sure that someone had uttered those words behind him; but everyone seemed occupied with his own affairs and took no notice of him. Now really frightened, he ran as though pursued by an enemy until he reached the crowded streets of the city.
Gradually the young man slowed down. Soon he became aware that many people were going in one direction. He followed the crowd and with them passed into a well filled hall.
A great meeting was in progress. The celebrated Moody and Sankey team were holding one of their famous missions in the city, and their ministry was being owned of God to the salvation of many souls. As the young man entered, he was still awed by the words, "After this the judgment.”
Mr. Sankey was just seating himself at the organ, and soon that God-given voice rang out in plaintive song:
"Where is my wandering boy tonight,
The boy of my tenderest care,
The boy that was once my joy and light,
The child of my love and prayer?
Oh, where is my boy, tonight?
Oh, where is my boy, tonight?
My heart o'erflows, for I love him, he knows!
Oh, where is my boy tonight?”
Is it any wonder that the stricken listener burst into tears? He hid his face in his hands and sobbed aloud. The scene of his mother's death, her last words to him, her last prayer for the salvation of his soul—all flashed back upon his memory. Then came before him his life of sin and rebellion against God, and his determination to end that life in the dark waters of the river, As Mr. Sankey sang, James' heart responded to the searching question, "Where?”
His very soul was crushed into deep repentance. Memory of his mother's prayers and now of his mother's God laid hold of him, and in deepest contrition he answered, "Here, Lord." He felt that there was no escape. Indeed, he did not wish to escape from God, for he realized that night that God had delivered him from death, from judgment and from hell. The Savior of sinners had said: "Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom." Job 33:2424Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. (Job 33:24).