No artist could capture the true picture, nor pen record the depth of love and the agonizing concern of those gathered in the hospital ward. Individuals from different walks of life fused together as one in the fervent prayer that rose to the throne of grace on high. Their prayers were for the one whose limp figure lay before them. Through the past few days her life had hung in the balance. It was difficult now to tell where face and blanket divided, and the bedside witnesses saw her drift to the edge of death. But the Almighty had heard; the appeal of those who loved her accompanied those of the angels encamped around her bed and gently she was carried back to live out another day by His strength. A tragic victim of one of the many automobile accidents recorded on the highways. Almost from the moment she was rushed to the hospital, beacons of prayers were lit throughout the world by members of that royal family to which she belonged. The watchmen were quickly set in place and the same message was transmitted from all quarters to that hospital ward. By way of cards, letters, flowers and personal visits, Christ’s sister came to know she had the best attention any one could ask for in such a crisis. The healing process always takes time but for her as others, those who wait upon the Lord will surely be healed.
His Curiosity Got The Best Of Him
And so they waited by the bedside in patience. There may have been severe pain, genuine concern and even the faint filter of doubt drifting through the sunlit window, but never loneliness.
The nurses gave little heed to the constant parade of the young and old to the bedside. So many other things to do, the care and demands of other patients, reports, etc. to be made up. But the flow of people did not go unnoticed by one. His responsibility was to deliver television sets to the various rooms at the request of the patients. Every time he passed that room it was full of people, and not always the same people. His thoughts were that no one could have that large a family, or that many friends. His curiosity got the better of him; he had to find out more about this unusual person. Quickly he discovered she was of Christadelphian faith and all the visitors were her brethren and sisters. The numbers and the constant attention had impressed this young man a great deal. How much greater would have been this effect upon him if he could have been permitted to see that she had an even greater audience, those who are called the angelic host. Like the Apostle Paul the young man had been disturbed by the things he had seen and the incident would not leave him quickly. Nor was the Almighty finished with him yet. Days later he was confronted by another witness to the things of the Truth by way of a pamphlet advertising a Bible lecture to e given by the Christadelphians. Other things were put aside and plans were made to go and hear the things believed by these people and to learn of the love that they had for one another.
Our story ends there for the time being. We hope the young man saw the wonders of the Hope of salvation, and had cause to feel that love which extended further than the walls of that ward. We pray that his interest will carry him to the shores of the waters of baptism and one day we can write a happy ending to this story. What joy in heaven when he who comes with healing in his wings will witness the young sister and the young man having become one with the redeemed of the Lord. We can write the conclusion to the young sister’s story. She is fully recovered from her accident and her endearing smile now tells all those who will listen, of the healing balm poured out so generously by those who loved her without price.
One of the priorities stressed by Christ when He was training his disciples to take the torch of the Gospel and run through the land was this, “All men shall know you by this, that you love one another.” Our actions to one another as well as to those some may call our enemies, are like the pebbles on the beach. Now and again those who pass by will pause to look a little closer at a pebble as something of beauty and stoop to take hold of it for awhile.
The apostle Peter exhorts, “Maintain good conduct among the Gentiles, so that in case they speak against you as evil doers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.” I Peter 2:12 (R.S.V.) Such observation may have been derived from looking back on his earlier experiences. Unknown to Peter he had been a witness to the one called Jesus the Christ. “Peter sat down among them.” The eyes of the world were upon him at that time and there were those who said, “Surely thou also art one of them, for thy speech betrayeth thee.”
Little did Daniel know that his enemy watched when he went to his meeting place with his God, watching his every action. What a wonderful tribute to that man when it was said, “They could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault in him.” Such conduct amongst the Gentiles persuaded King Darius to make a decree that all men in his kingdom should tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God.
Little did the widow realize that the son of God was watching when she gave all that she had that the hardships of others might e eased. Charity begins at home. Within the house, but also to those without, we must reach out, and touch with the tenderness of the love we have for our Lord our Master. For love is contagious and if everything we do and say is conveyed by that precious and all important virtue we shall persuade others to come and lean upon the Christ. Pebbles—small and large—polished by the waters, touched by the Son whose presence is still felt on the earth.
Those who pass by cannot help but notice a touch of the glory of the Creator as they see one with their head bent in prayer before partaking of a meal in a restaurant or their place of work.
While traveling on a ferry one day the attention of many was drawn to a small family as the mother and father joined hands with their children and said a small prayer before eating. For a moment all those gathered there were at Bethel, in the presence of those who gave worship and praise to the One who provides all things.
Our actions are seen by others. The brother or sister who is bereaved or troubled with the cares of this life, or pained with the weakness of the flesh but not displaying an attitude of depression saying “Where is my God?” No, but rather manifesting a calm countenance and assurance, “God knows what is best.” (Believing in this, “the Lord will not try us more than we can bear.”) The thoughts expressed in a get well card, not always read by one accustomed to Bible language and expressions. The book we read while traveling to and from work, or seen in our hands when our children observe us relaxed in our chair at home, its title telling others where our attention is. (Is it on those things which are above or of the earth?). Given the day of rest and our neighbors keep watch over our lives from their window, what do they see? Men and women whose feet direct them to the place of worship, anxious to be with the one they know to be their Savior, or giving our time to the weeds and thistles that speak of mortality and death?
Such vigilance in the service of the Master will have its greatest reward if we are permitted to dwell in his kingdom and be introduced to one carrying a pebble that we placed on the beach of life. May our Lord look on it and say to us, “In as much as ye did it unto one of the least of my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One