Lesson 2: An Example of God’s Work

For much of my life this writer was a preacher of the gospel, travelling often as much as thirty to forty thousand miles a year to proclaim the boundless riches of Christ. In all these years I only recall two times on which I have missed my trains. One was through the passive assurance of a host, who was to drive me from his country home into town in time for me to take an afternoon train, on which I had a reservation. I can remember yet how I urged my friend to get on the way, but he delayed with all kinds of inconsequential chores, insistent that there was plenty of time. I fumed and fretted to no purpose. He was calmly adamant.

Finally, we started out. About a mile from town we saw the train steam into the station, pause a few moments, and depart for the north. There was nothing to do but wait some five or six hours for the night express, on which I had no reservation, and found when it arrived I was obliged to sit in a crowded day coach all the way to the city. While annoyed, I comforted myself with the words, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28) I prayed earnestly that if He had some purpose in permitting me to miss my train and comfortable accommodations, I might not fail to find it out.


When I boarded the crowded coach, I found there was only one vacancy left and that was half of a seat midway down the car, a sleeping young man occupying the other half. As I sat down by him and stowed away my baggage, he awoke, straightened up, and gave me a rather sleepy greeting. Soon we were in an agreeable, low-toned conversation, while other passengers slept and snored all about us. An opportunity presenting itself, I inquired, "Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ?" He sat up as though shot. "How strange that you should ask me that! I went to sleep thinking of Him and wishing I did know Him, but I do not understand, though I want to! Can you help me?"

Drawing my newly-found friend's attention to its wonderful picture of the crucified Savior in Isaiah 53, though written so long before the event, I put before him verses 4, 5 and 6: "Surely He has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we thought Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace; and with His wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned - every one - to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."

As the young man read them, they seemed to burn their way into his very soul. He saw himself as the lost sheep that had taken its own way. He saw Christ as the One on whom Jehovah laid all his iniquity, and he bowed his head and told Him he would trust Him as his own Savior. For perhaps two hours we had wonderful fellowship on the way, as we turned from one scripture to another. Then he reached his destination and left, thanking me most profusely for showing him the way of life. I have never seen him since, but I know I shall greet him again at the judgment seat of Christ.

 Thought Question:
Have you ever been delayed and the Lord used you to help someone?
How do you recognize those “moments”?