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Listen while you read: "Lord Of All Being Throned Afar"1 (Lyrics) |
Jeremiah 29:11 – "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (NIV)
When I was a very young girl, until I heard the lonesome steam whistle, I didn't know that a section of California's Northwestern Pacific Railroad tracks were six miles down the mountain from my grandparents' sheep ranch. The wind currents carried the train's muffled "woo-woo" through the forested hillsides of our remote timber country. At night, the train whistle awakened me and seemed to call to me, "Come aboard!" Each time I heard the whistle, I felt an unsettling sadness of being left behind.
We can look at our faith journey as a train ride, with God as the Master Engineer and the Conductor. He desires all who accept His Son Jesus as Saviour to get on board. Listen carefully as He calls to us in so many ways. He becomes our spiritual Father and forgives us, accepts us, provides for us, and loves us. Do any of us want to be left behind and miss the plan that God has for His children? We never know what God will use to get our attention. For me, it could have been the "woo-woo" of the steam train whistle as a child, because I was seeking God even then. After I accepted Christ as my Saviour, I never felt sad again when I heard the train whistle.
Through every aspect of our lives, Jesus is calling us to come home to be wrapped in His love, to be filled with power to live a spiritual life in Him.
If you are teetering on the brink and not sure of the decision to make for Jesus, make it now. He paid the price, so that believers may receive forgiveness of sins. You don't even need to buy a ticket because when you are on the train to glory, you will already know that Christ paid your fare. He keeps His whistle blowing, "Come aboard!" When the final whistle blows, believers won't miss that last train to glory. The ride on this train matters, because none of His children will be left behind. The radiance of Christ that God has given those on board will blend into His glory as our train draws near to His home.
Through God, I have found peace, contentment, and purpose. I've observed the promises that God makes to His people, and I've enjoyed the blessings of faith in Christ. I stepped onto the faith train with confidence in Scripture that I will not be left behind. The time is now, so, have you stepped on board yet?
Prayer: Dear Father, the greatest love sacrifice that You have given us has been to let Jesus unload our burden of sin and guilt so that we may move forward and step onto the faith train headed for Your glory. Help each one of us to accept Jesus as our Saviour and to begin the trip to heaven with the ticket of redemption that only Christ could purchase for us. Amen.
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Thank-you for this.
‘Life is like a mountain railroad’.
Amen, Karen. Always a good reminder.
Love this prayer Karen. Thank you. Blessings.
Thank you, Karen, for this challenging message.
Amen Karen.
Blessings.
Amen and amen, Karen. To God be the glory!
Blessings.
I very much enjoyed today’s devotion, such a great comparison. Thank you.
(Ontario)
Beautifully said Karen. May God bless you and make His face shine upon you as you continue to serve Him.
Thank you.
Karen, thank you for a powerful and beautiful witness. Your words are a great comfort in our daily struggle in these trying times.
(Texas)
Thanks, Karen, for another great devotional writing. You have a very special talent in co-ordinating experiences into a mindful message to seek our loving Jesus and follow His ways. Blessings for your very special writings.
Good morning, Karen,
Through our faith in Christ as Savior and Lord we are on the faith train indeed. Would it be that more people would climb aboard. Thank you for writing this so easy to understand devotional.
May the Lord’s Blessings be on you and yours.
Dear Karen,
Thanks for another great devotional. We used to sing an old hymn when I was a child. “Life is Like a Mountain Railroad”. Did you sing it too?? It’s amazing how God has led so many of us in similar paths.
I’m not a writer but I thank God for those who are and share their gifts with us.
God bless you Karen and keep writing.
Thank you, Karen, not just for today’s devotional but for all the ones you contribute.
This one brings back memories from my own childhood.
We lived in a village with a level crossing. Every morning at 2 o’clock we heard a passenger train blow its whistle on the way through. If the train was early or late everyone in the village woke up and if it didn’t go through at all some weren’t able to get back to sleep.
As a teenager I moved to a big city with my family. Despite all the city’s noises we still woke up at 2 a.m. for a long time after the move.
Now my husband and I live not far from a freight crossing and sometimes hear trains in the night. Fortunately they’re not on a similar schedule so we don’t have any sleepless nights waiting for the sound of the whistle.
Blessings,
(Ontario, Canada)
Good morning Karen,
I enjoyed your train story. One reason is because it reminds me of my dad. He worked on the CNR trains in the boxcars for many years of my younger life. My brothers could go with him because they were boys, but I could not because I was a girl and not allowed in the boxcars. We did go on the trains because they received a rail pass and I can remember going to visit friends in the US on the train and stopping in New York to visit some of the sights there or going to Peterborough for a picnic near the canal, but I was always wanting to go in the boxcar which never happened. Good memories. You have different memories about the train, but still good ones.
Of course you are relating the train to our faith journey and make very good points on how it is similar. We all have good memories about the journey of our faith, and they will all be different, however they will all strengthen and support us.
I hope your devotional encourages others to grab their free ticket to heaven which Jesus paid for. Thanks for sharing and encouraging others to ride the train. Blessings.
What a great message Karen!
I really like how you challenged the readers with the Q: “Have you stepped on board yet?” The prayer was wonderful.
What a gift!
Thanks for sharing!
Dear Karen,
This is such a beautiful call to faith in Jesus! Thank you for sharing it with us. May many who have read it hear the call.
Blessings in Christ,
(BC)
Hello Karen,
Thank you for sharing your devotional “This Train” in the PresbyCan Daily Devotionals. Your article is so peaceful and calming. I love it.
Blessings,
(ON)