Thought for the Week

As I sat down to write this ‘thought’, my eyes ‘chanced’ upon one of the larger books in my jungle of an office – “Great Railway Journeys of the World – a present from my everloving wife. [We are contemplating a railway journey as a holiday].

My dad came to mind, for throughout my childhood he was an engine driver for the GWR (Great Western Railway, or God’s Wonderful Railway to rail enthusiasts?).

He recounted journeys on the footplate out of Paddington to the West Country and to Wales, how at high speed with the engine swaying from side to side he wondered if it would leave the track.

Fortunately for him (and for me), it never did. I wondered if these accounts affected me and whether I disappointed him when aged ten I refused to climb up on to the footplate of a goods engine, stationary in a marshalling yard.

I should have known he would never have put my life in danger. For, as I have mentioned in a previous Echo article, I was fortunate to have had an earthly father who loved me, took care of me, played with me, disciplined me and made me feel safe and secure.

Last June, during Kedington’s Meadowlark Praise, we sang “The Gospel Train is coming, I hear it close at hand ..... get on board chillun! There’s room for many a more”.

Who is issuing the invitation?

The song continues, “We soon shall reach the station, O how we then shall sing; with all the heavenly army we’ll make the welkin [sky] ring” – so we can draw our own conclusion.

Using “gospel” as a clue I conclude it is Jesus who issues the invitation to everyone. He says to those who “get on board” that he has gone to prepare a place for them and that they all one day will be where he is (John 14:2, 3).

It is good to know that Jesus, just like God, his Father, is always faithful and always keeps His promises to His children. He awaits us at the end of our journey.