Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded

“He Died for Me”

A gentleman, while travelling lately in the Southern States of America, came to a place where there was a newly-made grave. Bending over it was a man planting flowers, which as he set them in a new-turned soil, he watered with his tears. After observing him for a time, and noticing his deep sorrow, the traveller said, “I suppose you are mourning over the grave of a wife?” “No,” replied the man, “I have not lost my wife.” “Perhaps,” said the traveller, “your tears water the tomb of a much loved child?” “No,” repeated the mourner, “I have lost neither wife nor child.” “May I ask then,” said the traveller, “whose death it is that causes you so much sorrow?”

“I plant these flowers, and shed these tears for one who died for me,” said the mourner. “I was called to serve as a soldier in the late war. I had a wife and children, who would be left uncared for if I fell. My friend came forward; he said, ‘I have no wife and children — I will go instead of you.’ He did so, and was wounded on the battle-field. Hearing that he was lying in hospital in a dangerous state, I came to see him, but came only in time to find him in his grave. He lies buried here. He has gone down into the tomb for me, and I plant these flowers and water them with my tears in remembrance of him.”

The mourner afterwards had a tombstone set up on the grave, and upon it was carved the simple but touching sentence —
“He Died for Me” — (Extracted.)

I suppose there are few who would not be affected by this touching story, but, reader, how few there are who have been touched by that which is far more wonderful, more touching: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends;” but the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, laid down His life for His enemies; “if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son,” etc. He died for us to make us His friends. Can you say, reader, you are one whom He has won for Himself; can you say He died for me? and not only died for me, but lives at God’s right hand for evermore for me; and can you say, in Him, I have died out of the state or condition in which, as a child of Adam, I was born, and I now live in Him the risen one, and am one with Him the glorified one? W T Turpin.

“Received”

    This is Thy love, my God!
Joy never-ending I, in Thee begin!
Thou sawest me, afar from Thine abode!
Thou hadst compassion! Thou hast brought me in!
 
    It was one great surprise
Along the way, beneath that noonday sun
Since first I falter’d forth “I will arise!”
And groan’d: “I am not fit to be a son.”
 
    Rapt to my Father’s heart —
I felt His kiss, ere I could speak my shame:
Love, acting out its own amazing part —
Me, in my guilt, my ruin, overcame.
 
    Thou didst provide the Robe!
Didst tell Thy servants to bring forth the best,
The ring, the shoes, Thy gift upon the road,
Prepared me, home-returning, for Thy Rest.
 
    Oh, it is holy ground!
Nought that defiles can ever touch me more.
Thy lost one, once the prodigal, is FOUND.
My distrust, the Famine time, is o’er.
 
    Now is the Banquet spread;
The fatted calf, reserved for me, is kill’d;
I — perishing erewhile for want of bread,
Sit at Thy Feast: my cup by Thee o’erfill’d.
 
    Thy Festival I share!
Where guests, at home in all Thine own delight,
With symphonies, with choral dance, declare
THEE in Thy grace, Thy glory — LOVE and LIGHT!

“Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first-begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth — unto him that loves us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever, Amen.” — Revelation 1:5-6. W T Turpin.