On Board Ship
To me this taught a lesson. The big ship Salvation has pulled into the harbor of the needy, the needy one comes in his little row-boat of trouble and cries for help, and the gang plank, the Gospel of love, is let down to him, and he jumps on and is saved. So, as we go among these needy people, in their little old row-boats toiling on the angry waters of sin, we hope to see the dear old Gospel ship of Zion pull into many a harbor, and lower the gang plank of love and mercy, and see people jumping on and coming aboard for the glory-land. For truly, Jesus is coming soon, and what we do we must do quickly, ere they perish.
At another port we had to wait a day for the unloading of cargo. Many natives came to the ship to sell birds and different things, and we had a wonderful opportunity to give out the Word of God to them. How eager they were to hear of the love of God to save them. One old man came up out of his little boat and said. “Are there many people in your country who know about this great God, and how He sent His Son to die for us?” We told him there were many who knew about it. Then he said, “Why don’t they come and tell us about it and help us to find Him.” We were speechless, for we knew there were few who would leave all to tell them of Jesus and His power to save.
“I’ll Be Waiting for You When Your Ship Returns.”
Several little boys came on board from the many boats and lighters, and played with Carl. He brought out his little train, that ran on a track. They had never seen anything like that before, so they spent the day with him. We gave each one tracts and a Testament to carry home. How their little dark faces did shine with delight when we told them of the love of Jesus for every one of them, and how God had sent us to tell the people to get ready, for He was soon coming back to earth. One little fellow was very much interested, asking many questions about the Bible and the tracts we had given him.
Just then the bell rang, and orders were given for every visitor to get off, for the ship was ready to go. As this dear little fellow took Carl’s hand and shook it he said, “I will be waiting for you when you come back. I will wait every day till I see this ship return, and then you can tell me more about Jesus and how to find this peace you have.”
He rowed away in a small boat, and, as far as we could see, we saw his little hand waving, and heard him saying, “I will be waiting for you when you come back.”
How we wept, for we knew we would not come that way again, and realized that the little fellow might never again hear the Gospel. Shall we fail to go to them with the bread of life?