The train drew up at the station and the usual crowd of travelers got out. The people waiting on the platform crowded in and pushed along the aisle to find the empty seats. Harry, a young boy carrying a small bag and quite on his own, was one of them. There was no one to bid him “good-by” but he seemed quite content. He soon found himself a seat and there he sat looking out the window, watching the countryside as the train sped along.
An older gentleman kept his eye on little Harry for a while, and then he asked him if he had been on the train before.
“Yes,” replied Harry, “many times; and I love to watch the sheep and the cows in the fields as we go along.”
The passengers all settled down; then they came to another station where many people left the train, and many more got on.
By and by the sky grew dark and stormy-looking, and it would soon be nightfall. The older gentleman looked a little perturbed at his young companion, and at last he said, “Aren’t you afraid, my boy, being on your own like this on a dark night and away from home?”
The little fellow looked surprised, and glancing at the bag he carried, he said, “No, I’m not worried; why should I be? My Daddy’s the engineer, and he knows all the tunnels, and when we get to the end, we’ll have our supper.”
No wonder little Harry was so confident. He was on the train and his father was the engineer, so he was perfectly happy to sit there until they reached their destination.
Is this not a good picture of God’s children on their way through life in this world? Harry wasn’t afraid every time they went through a tunnel—his father was in control; and when the journey was over they would sit down and enjoy each other’s company!
And isn’t that just what God has promised to His children in His Word? His dear Son was lifted up on the cross in order that we might have eternal life, and when we are brought to believe on Him as our Saviour, we are born by His Spirit into the family of God. God is our loving Father, and the Lord Jesus has said that even the little sparrows are not forgotten by Him. We are more valuable than many sparrows, so He tells us.
If we belong to Jesus, we can always be sure of the Father’s loving, faithful care all through our life, and then we shall share His Home with Him forever.
“Bless the Lord, O my soul.”
ML-07/01/1979