His Father's Bible

TOPIC: Weights In Life SUBTOPIC: Necessary For Progress TITLE: His Father's Bible

The Wabash train was speeding between Kansas City and St. Louis. I saw the sad-looking young main in the seat in front of me quietly leafing a Bible.

"Are you a preacher?" I asked.

"Oh. no," he replied. "This is my father's Bible. I have just attended his funeral. He left me his Bible as a token of his love."

"That's coincidental," said I. "I have my father's Bible with me. He, too, left it to me."

The young man did not know much about the Bible. Life itself, at the moment, was proving to be almost too much for him. He was in trouble. The depression had recently taken his business, and now death had taken his father.

"Why do these things happen?" he asked.

What could I say to him? How could I meet his need?

"Get your Bible out again," said I. "Now read with me II Corinthians 12: 9, 10, 11. There is Paul's philosophy of life. He had reached that place in life where he would suffer all mariner of reverses gladly."

I went on to show the young man that resistance in the natural realm develops power. That the train on which we were moving could not go ahead sometimes because the way was too smooth. It needed the resistance which sand on the rail furnished. I explained that on the driving wheel of our train was a large cast weight. This was designed neither to accelerate nor retard our speed, but only to steady the wheel. I insisted that the weight was necessary for our progress.

I told him that resistance and weights in our lives are good for us. I informed him that I believed that anything that drives us to our knees is for our benefit and not for our injury. I pointed out that Paul had prayed for the thorn to be removed. but it was not. God's reply to him was, "My strength is made perfect in weakness, my grace is sufficient for thee." "Thorns in the flesh are sure to come, I explained, "but God's grace is our portion too. Adverse circumstances develop power in us. Through these the power of Christ rests upon us as it did on Paul." I urged the young man to adopt Paul's philosophy of life.

I saw the young man take his pen and put a bracket around the verses to which I had referred him.

"I didn't know those verses were in the Bible," said he. "And I didn't know that anyone could look on life as that man Paul did, and from now on I shall try to do so too."

The young man then handed me his Bible and pen, with the request that I put my name on the fly leaf.

"But" I protested, "you don't want me to write my name in your father's Bible."

"That's just where I do want it," said he. "That's the appropriate place for it, and I shall always remember this conversation."

I left him in Pittsburgh, as he continued his journey to New York. A smile was on his face and gratitude in his voice, as with a firm grip on my hand he poured out his thanks for my help.

There are thousands like him. I wonder if we even try to meet the needs of those around us.