JESUS, IT’S JIM… JIM, IT’S JESUS
The preacher, a puzzled frown on his face, hurried to the cottage where the Church caretaker lived.
“I am worried, he explained. “Every day at 12 o’clock a shabby old man goes into the church. I can see him through the parsonage window. He only stays a few minutes. It seems most mysterious and you know the altar furnishings are quite valuable. I wish you would keep an eye open, and question the fellow.”
The next day, and so for long days, the caretaker watched, and sure enough at twelve o’clock the shabby figure would arrive.
One day the caretaker accosted him: “Look here, my friend, what are you up to, going into the church every day?”
“I go to pray,” the old man replied quietly.
“Now come,” the caretaker said sternly, “You don’t stay long enough to pray. You are only there a few minutes, for I have watched you. You just go up to the altar every day and then come away.”
“Yes, that’s true. I cannot pray a long prayer, but every day at 12 o’clock I just comes and says, “Jesus, it’s Jim.” Then I wait a minute, then comes away. It’s just a little prayer, but I guess He hears me.”
Some time later poor old Jim was knocked down by a truck, and was taken to the city hospital where he settled down quite happily while his leg mended.
The ward where Jim lay had been a sore spot to the hospital for a long time. Some of the men were cross and miserable, others did nothing but grumble from morning till night. Try as the nurses would, the men did not improve.
Then slowly but surely things changed. The men stopped grumbling and were cheerful and contented. They took their medicine, ate their food and settled down without a complaint.
One day, hearing a burst of happy laughter, the nurse asked: “What has happened to you all? You are such a nice cheerful lot of patients now. Where have all those grumbles gone?” “Oh, it’s old Jim,” one patient replied. “He is always so happy, never complains although we know he must have a lot of pain. He makes us ashamed to make a murmur. No we can’t gripe when Jim’s about, he’s always so cheerful.”
The nurse crossed over to where Jim lay. His silvery hair gave him an angelic look. His quiet eyes were full of peace. “Well, Jim,” she greeted him, “the men say you are responsible for the change in this ward. They say you are always happy.”
“Aye, Nurse, that I am. I can’t help being happy. You see, Nurse, it’s my visitor. Every day He makes me happy.”
“Your visitor?” The nurse was puzzled. She had always noticed that Jim’s chair was empty on visiting days, for he was a lonely old man without any relatives. “Your visitor,” she repeated, “But when does he come?”
“Every day,” Jim replied, the light in his eyes growing brighter. “Yes, every day at 12 o’clock He comes and stands at the foot of my bed. I see Him, and He smiles and says, “Jim, it’s Jesus.”
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“I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him and delivereth them. O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” Psalm 34:4-8.
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Cor. 12:9.
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3″19.
(The above material was published by Pilgrim Tract Society, Randleman, N.C.)
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