From the Elder's Pen  "Your Father Calls" 2/3/02 Past/Future Articles

A military officer told the story of “Hartmann,” an old man whose son enlisted in the army.  When news came of a dreadful battle, this old father went to the scene of the conflict to learn something concerning his boy.

The officer of the day told him the son had not answered roll call and had been given up for dead.  This did not satisfy the father, of course, so he started across the battlefield looking for the one who was dearer to him than life.  He stooped and turned over the face of this one and that one, without success.  Night came, and with it a gale, but he continued searching with a lantern seemingly to no purpose.

Suddenly the wind extinguished his lantern and he stood in the darkness hardly knowing what to do.  With deep feeling he cried out his son’s name.  He kept shouting, “John Hartmann, your father calls you.”  All about him he heard groans.  Someone cried, “Oh, if you were only my father.”  He continued with more pathos and power until at last in the distance he heard his boy’s voice cry weakly, “Here, father.”  The old man ran across the field shouting, “Thank God!  Thank God!”  Taking him in his arms, he carried him to headquarters and nursed him back to health.  The son went on to live a long life.

Over the battlefield of the slain this day walks Jesus Christ crying out to all who are wrecked by sin’s awful power, “Thy Father calleth thee.”  He listens for the faintest response.  Won’t you come while He calls today?