Cripple Tom and his Texts part three

“But now about yourself. How would you like to end your days in one of those homes for cripple lads, where you would be nursed and cared for, and where you would see the trees and flowers, and hear the birds sing? I could get you into one not far from my home if you liked, Tom.”

The weary lad looked wistfully into the man’s kindly face, and after a few moments silence answered: “Thank’ee, sir; I have heard tell of ‘em afore, but I ain’t anxious to die easy when He died hard. I might get taken up with them things a bit too much, and I’d rather be a lookin’ at Him, and carryin’ on this ‘ere work till He come to fetch me.”

“Well, my lad, then I will see that you have proper food and all the paper you need while you live. I will settle it with one of the Bible-women. Now, laddie, before I go I want you to pray aloud for me.”

There was a bright light on the poor, pale, upturned face, as he said in a tone of the deepest reverence: “Lord Jesus, I know you’re a-listenin’, and I’m much obliged to You for sending this gentleman here to cheer me in my work. Now, Lord Jesus, he’s a bit troubled about not havin’ lived for Thee in past days, will You help him to see that there’s nothing’ left undone in the comin’ days? And please, Lord, make him go straight away and tell them other rich men of Thy love. Now, Lord Jesus, please bless this kind friend, all roads and always. I ask this for Thy name’s sake.”

“Amen” said the deep-toned voice.

Then the gentleman rose, and said farewell. Before leaving London, he made arrangement for the lad to be cared for, and then with a gladder heart he went back to his beautiful country home, and lived for Christ. News of the dying lad reached them from time to time through the Bible-woman, but it was not till winter set in, and the snow had fallen and covered the earth with its crystal whiteness, that they heard the dear lad had

GONE TO BE WITH JESUS.

The same post brought a parcel which contained Tom’s much-prized and much-used Bible. What a precious relic was that marked Bible in that beautiful home! For when the cripple boy’s friend lent it to his youngest son to read, the careful marking, the short simple prayers written by the cripple lad on the margin, and the dying wish on the fly-leaf, written about a week before his death, that “This Holy book may be as great a friend to someone else as it have been to me,” made a deep impression on the youth that he got converted, and gave himself to the Lord, and later on to mission work in foreign fields; and out in Central Africa he has shown that worn-out Bible to many a native Christian telling them about Cripple Tom and his texts.

Reader, young or old, have you learned to know the Lord Jesus as your personal Saviour? If not, He waits to be gracious – to be to you little child, and to you, grown-up man and woman, all that He was to Cripple Tom. If you know Him, are you seeking to serve Him? If a dying lad, in suffering and destitution, could joyfully deny the little sip of milk, which cooled his parched lips, and partly fed his weary body, surely it is possible for us to suffer a little, deny ourselves a little, and work a little for the blessed Saviour, who has loved us, and given Himself for us.

Taken from The Journey And It's End, compiled by A. J. Pollock

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The Storm

As I sat in my friend Margaret's room the heavens opened and I hoped and prayed that it would be over before I went for my bus, all I had with me was a shower mac there is no way it would be any good in a thunderstorm. When it was time to go, the rain had stopped and I got to the bus stop dry. However, the storm was going in the same direction as me! I was reminded that we must be prepared for storms, trials, tribulations, when we become followers of the Lord Jesus He does not promise a rosy ride, Jesus said:

John16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

“So even though we have these trails etc. we can be assured that we will not be dragged down or taken from the Lord because He is with us through every storm of life, upholding us, sustaining us, building us up and caring for us. As I continued my journey a gentleman at the back of the bus was on his phone to his friend, I had a moment by moment commentary on what the weather was doing, he could see from the sky where the storm was going and how bad it was going to be and all he had on was a summer t-shirt, I did feel for him, he insisted that they would wait in the bus station until the storm had passed. He was ill prepared for what was coming, even though he could see what was coming! Jesus said:

Matthew 16:1-3 Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said to them, "When it is evening you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red'; and in the morning, 'It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times." 

When I got home the heaven's opened 

and we had torrential rain and a thunderstorm 

I was so glad that I was safe at home,

When the storm clouds had gone, the sun came out, it was glorious. I was reminded that there is a terrible time coming upon the earth such that has never been seen before when God's wrath will be poured out upon an unbelieving, rejecting, rebellious people, many will believe but many will not and they will run for cover but there will be nowhere to hide. Not only is this time foretold in the book of Revelation in the Bible but also by the Old Testament prophets. The signs of the times are there for us to read, does this sound familiar? 

2 Timothy 3:1-7 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 

The signs are there for all to see and be warned, thank the Lord there is a way out through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ on the cross, all who repent of their sins and turn from their sins and receive Jesus as their Saviour and Lord of their life will be saved from sin, death, condemnation and this wrath to come.

After the storm came the sun, and after this terrible time the Son of God will come in all His glorious splendour to rule supreme over all the earth. We who are in Christ have a glorious future, if you don't have a personal relationship with Jesus, ask Him today, your life will be transformed and you will be new in Him. The world will no longer have any appeal for you and you will be His forever, hallelujah. Jesus said: 

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

John 3:15-18 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God, did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.