# The Lutheran Pioneer_St. Louis_1911_S37 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) The Lutheran Pioneer. | 37 Always With Us. Lo, Lam with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Matt. 2S, 20. Always with us, always with us, Oh, what words of hope and cheer! Though our days be filled with trials, Still the Lord is ever near. Oh, what blessed peace and comfort, Knowing Christ will be our Guide! If we trust Him, simply trust Tim, Then no ill ean e’er betide. © Through death’s valley dark and dreary He will guide us all the way, Till we reach the pearly portals Of a brighter, better day. EsTurr PETERSON. ee A Word in Season. Two merchanis lived near neighbors in a suburb of a large city and rode to and from their business in the morning and evening trains. ‘They saw each other every day, but were not intimate friends, and were yery seldom together. The younger one was # Christian, and the older was not. The Christian hoped that some day opportunity might offer to speak a word for Jesus with his neighbor. One day it happened that the two merchants Talking about business matters, they also spoke of their successes. “It has been a lucky year for me,” said the elder of the two. “I suppose I could retire with a hundred thousand dollars. ‘That is enough, and I don’t know as [ care for any more.” “Yes, that is enough,” replied the younger. “You are provided for.” “T suppose I am.” “Wor this life,’ said the younger one. “Excuse me, may I ask how about the next— the life be- yond ?” “Oh, I don’t worry about that!” “But wouldn’t it be wise now to give serious ‘thought to what comes after death?” “T can see no use in it. ‘Those matters are be- yond our control. L’ve no fear, but it will all come out right.” “But isn’t that a rather uncertain trust? We do not act so in our business matters, and they surely are of less importance than our soul’s eternal destiny. In this matter we want all things plain, and the words of Christ have made them so. He says: ‘God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. He that believeth on Him is not condemned; but he eecupied the same seat in the car. that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only-be- gotien Son of God. Surely, these words are quite plain. And it is also plainly written: ‘He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. ” The merchants parted, the one with the prayer in his heart that his words might be blessed for the salvation of an immortal soul, the other taken up with the present life and with no thought for the life to come. No opportunity occurred to renew their conver- sation. After a few months the older merchant was taken ill. His neighbor missed_him from the daily trains. He inquired after him, but learned of no alarming disease or danger. Our Lutheran Missionaries at Travancore, India, and their Native Helpers. At last, one day, while he was in the city, a telegram, sent at the sick man’s request, was handed to him in his office. The message was: “A. is dying and wishes to see you.” The merchant hurried away, and at the earliest possible moment stood by: his neighbor’s bedside. “T could not die,” the sick man whispered, “till I had seen you and thanked you. What you said that morning on the car came up to me since I have been confined at home. I have thought over it and prayed over it. I’m going now, but going in peace. Christ, the Son of God, is my Savior. My trust and hope are in Him.” The young Christian merchant’s heart was filled with joy and thankfulness. He had been a home missionary, and God had blessed his words spoken for Jesus. ‘ : “He who converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death,’ James 5, 20.