Mr. John was visiting in a strange city where he boarded the streetcar one evening to go to a meeting of Christians. As he paid his fare, he said to the operator, “Will you please tell me when we come to Gladstone Avenue, for I am a stranger here?”
Perhaps you are puzzled by this unusual reply from the streetcar operator, but Mr. John was not puzzled. He knew at once that the man was “redeemed ... with the precious blood of Christ,” 1 Peter 1:18, 1918Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1 Peter 1:18‑19), and he gladly shook hands with him and spoke of the “better land” to which they were both traveling.
I suppose most of us have been in a strange place at some time, and we have asked someone to tell us the way. We have been very thankful, too, when the person whom we asked was able to help us.
But, dear reader, when you leave this world, do you know where you are going for eternity? Be sure you are not mistaken about that, for if you should die in your sins it will then be forever too late. Do not take the word of any man in this important matter, but take God’s Word, the Bible, read it, and believe it. It tells you of ONE WAY ONLY, and that is by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work.
When you have believed on the Lord Jesus, then you, like Mr. John, the streetcar operator, and many others, become a stranger and a pilgrim in this world. Our blessed Lord and Saviour was cast out and crucified here, and we find that the world has not changed —it does not want those who love and speak of Him. As for us, we are traveling to our home above; we do not belong to this world, but to the Lord Jesus and to heaven.
ML 05/09/1954