Jewels #14 (Aug. 18, 2008)
My Jewels # 14
"And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up MY JEWELS." (Malachai 3:17)
To my dear grandchildren,
Do you like to read about war stores? Often they are very scary and sad. War brings so much death, sorrow and sadness. Here is a good story that happened during the American Civil war.
Major Whittle, who was saved during the Civil War, used to tell the story of an aged Quaker whose son had enlisted in the army. News came of a dreadful battle, and this old father in fear and trembling, started to the scene of conflict hoping to learn something concerning his boy. The officer of the day told him he had not answered to roll call and that there was reason to believe, that he had been killed.
This did not satisfy the aged father, so leaving headquarters, he started out across the battle field, looking for the one who was dearer to him than life. He would stoop down and turn over the face of this one and that, but without success. Night came on, and with the help of a lantern, he continued his search, all to no avail.
Suddenly the wind, which was blowing a gale, blew out his lantern, and he stood there in the darkness hardly knowing what to do. Then his father's ingenuity, strength and affection for his son, prompted him to call out his son's name; and so he stood and shouted, "John Hartmann, thy father calleth thee." All about him he could hear the groans and sighs of the dying and someone saying, "Oh, if that were only my father!" He continued his cry with more pathos and power. Then, at last, in the distance and darkness he heard his own dear boy's voice crying tremblingly, "Here, father!"
The old man made his way across the field shouting: "Thank God! Thank God!" Taking his wounded boy up in his arms, he bore him back to headquarters. He nursed him back to health and strength, and he lived.
God sent His only Son (Jesus) into this world to be our Saviour, and now if there be but the faintest response to His cry, He will take the lost up in His arms and bear them home to heaven.
"But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him . . .
"This my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found." (Luke 15:20,24)
