Candle of God
Have you ever seen a grown man cry? Have you ever heard of a man who has lost all hope? Have you ever heard of a man who has a face so drawn with pain he cannot bear to be among people?
Well, I have met this man, and I would like to tell you a little about him…
Some years ago I met him whilst out on a hunting trip in the mountains. He as mooching slowly along the river flats, with a pack on his back and staff in his hand. By his side an old collie dog wandered along, occasionally looking up at his master with puzzled eyes.
Why did his master not want to talk, and why did he keep sobbing… why was there always that stony silence, broken now and then with prayers to the Lord on high? Why? Oh why?
As this fellow drew near to me I looked into his face, but he seemed barely able to see me through the tears. I spoke to him, but he only grunted a reply. I caught him by the shoulder and shook him saying, “Stranger! Who are you, and where are you heading?”
The stranger gazed tearfully back at me for a long while before answering. “My name is ‘Lost Hope’ and my destination is Heavens Gate!”
I thought carefully a moment. “Why do you head into the mountains then?”
“Because deep in the woods beyond those rugged peaks yonder is a gate,” the stranger murmured softly. “It is the entrance to ‘Glory Land.’ If I can reach that gate I will find the solution to all my earthly worries. The man at the gate in the Angel Gabriel, and he will allow me to rest my weary head and heal my broken heart.”
“Friend,” I asked. “Why are you on this journey whilst you are so young? Most people make this journey later in life.”
“My heart was broken,” the stranger sobbed, “My life has been a waste, and so as I see no future, I might as well seek God's Kingdom now rather than wait till I am old.”
“Don’t you think that is very selfish?” I asked. “Don’t you ever think of the thousands of lost folk you could help with your life? Going to heaven early might end your own problems, but it won’t end the problems of all those people whom you could help if you stayed around longer.”
The stranger bent his head. “Well Mister, I guess I hadn’t seen it that way before. I was too full of my own concerns to see the problems other folk.”
“That’s right Friend,” I chuckled softly.“It is only when we help other people that we actually help ourselves. Put your energy into helping save the sinners, and you will find the trouble you encountered back in your past will be just a dim memory. It will no longer haunt you and cause you grief.
I patted the man on the shoulder saying, “Fellow traveller, look to Christ and you will have Hope… Your name shall no longer be “Lost Hope”… it shall be ‘Candle of God.’”
“Thank-you Mister, I can already see a small light flickering… it is the flame of faith glowing in my small corner. I shall never allow it to go out.”
The stranger straightened up and gave a huge sigh. “Yes, I feel better than I have done for years! I feel renewed strength. I will not travel into the mountains yet. I am going to return home to my people, my friends and my family to spread the good news.”
He gave a long laugh. It’s been good to talk with you,” he said.
I grasped his hand and shook it firmly. “I wish you God Speed on your journey… Good bye and God bless!”
Calling the Collie to his heels the stranger made off down the trail at a fine pace. He walked as though a man on a mission…
I leaned against the tree I was standing under and smiled happily. Another wayward traveller was back on the narrow way. My job of keeping the stragglers on course for my King has been rewarding in the sense that I am duty bound to God alone. My sole purpose is to please Him and bring Glory and Honour to His precious Name.
By Adam R. B. Reeve
20th June 2011
Well, I have met this man, and I would like to tell you a little about him…
Some years ago I met him whilst out on a hunting trip in the mountains. He as mooching slowly along the river flats, with a pack on his back and staff in his hand. By his side an old collie dog wandered along, occasionally looking up at his master with puzzled eyes.
Why did his master not want to talk, and why did he keep sobbing… why was there always that stony silence, broken now and then with prayers to the Lord on high? Why? Oh why?
As this fellow drew near to me I looked into his face, but he seemed barely able to see me through the tears. I spoke to him, but he only grunted a reply. I caught him by the shoulder and shook him saying, “Stranger! Who are you, and where are you heading?”
The stranger gazed tearfully back at me for a long while before answering. “My name is ‘Lost Hope’ and my destination is Heavens Gate!”
I thought carefully a moment. “Why do you head into the mountains then?”
“Because deep in the woods beyond those rugged peaks yonder is a gate,” the stranger murmured softly. “It is the entrance to ‘Glory Land.’ If I can reach that gate I will find the solution to all my earthly worries. The man at the gate in the Angel Gabriel, and he will allow me to rest my weary head and heal my broken heart.”
“Friend,” I asked. “Why are you on this journey whilst you are so young? Most people make this journey later in life.”
“My heart was broken,” the stranger sobbed, “My life has been a waste, and so as I see no future, I might as well seek God's Kingdom now rather than wait till I am old.”
“Don’t you think that is very selfish?” I asked. “Don’t you ever think of the thousands of lost folk you could help with your life? Going to heaven early might end your own problems, but it won’t end the problems of all those people whom you could help if you stayed around longer.”
The stranger bent his head. “Well Mister, I guess I hadn’t seen it that way before. I was too full of my own concerns to see the problems other folk.”
“That’s right Friend,” I chuckled softly.“It is only when we help other people that we actually help ourselves. Put your energy into helping save the sinners, and you will find the trouble you encountered back in your past will be just a dim memory. It will no longer haunt you and cause you grief.
I patted the man on the shoulder saying, “Fellow traveller, look to Christ and you will have Hope… Your name shall no longer be “Lost Hope”… it shall be ‘Candle of God.’”
“Thank-you Mister, I can already see a small light flickering… it is the flame of faith glowing in my small corner. I shall never allow it to go out.”
The stranger straightened up and gave a huge sigh. “Yes, I feel better than I have done for years! I feel renewed strength. I will not travel into the mountains yet. I am going to return home to my people, my friends and my family to spread the good news.”
He gave a long laugh. It’s been good to talk with you,” he said.
I grasped his hand and shook it firmly. “I wish you God Speed on your journey… Good bye and God bless!”
Calling the Collie to his heels the stranger made off down the trail at a fine pace. He walked as though a man on a mission…
I leaned against the tree I was standing under and smiled happily. Another wayward traveller was back on the narrow way. My job of keeping the stragglers on course for my King has been rewarding in the sense that I am duty bound to God alone. My sole purpose is to please Him and bring Glory and Honour to His precious Name.
By Adam R. B. Reeve
20th June 2011