The Runaway Train.
Trains. I love trains. I’ve got several model ones of my own. I got my first wind-up toy train when I was about 3 or 4 yrs old. What is it that’s so fascinating about a simple motorised toy that only goes one way around a track and doesn’t really do anything else?
However, unknown to me, the analogy of a train was to serve me well in later years when I was having a discussion with another Christian colleague. He didn’t know the trouble that I was in or the severity of the pressure that I was under in my personal life. There was a lot in my life that wasn’t right, and I knew this. And it was only my faith in Jesus that kept me convinced that I could come through this storm.
But this guy was trying to convince me that I was no longer a Christian because my life wasn’t ”right”. I shared Bible thoughts with him. Gave him literature to help with the youth groups he was involved with. But he wasn’t conceding anything. To him, I was “among the lost”.
One day, in my frustration, I stopped his conversation and asked. “Look. Just because a train is no longer on the tracks does that mean it is no longer a train? There are an awful lot of Christian people going through this life and they’re hurting. So why not step back and realise that God has still got their lives in His care no matter what your opinions are.”
He rolled his eyes and sneered. “Ah, you just think that way because it suits you”. I replied, “Ok then. What’s your answer for people who are in difficulties?”
He sneered again and turned and walked away. I never spoke with him about Christian matters again.
However. I was dumbfounded at myself. Where did that analogy of the train come from? I had never thought about it before. But the more I thought about it then the more I realised that it is absolutely spot on.
That’s what happens in church life. We see someone sitting in a corner or quietly tidying up the church pews and hymn books and we don’t really know what is pressing on their hearts. Some of us are like little trains that have ran off the rails. All the bits of the engine and wheels are still there. They just need a bit of time and a bit of hard work to get themselves back onto the tracks again.
Trains weren’t invented in Biblical times so there are no analogies of verses to refer to on this topic. But what there was plenty of, is people whose lives had become a wreck at some point.
Moses was a wreck. He had killed an Egyptian who was beating up a Hebrew slave. Then he hid the body. When he thought he hadn’t been seen he found out that someone had indeed saw him and he ran away.
Exodus ch2 (14)Then he said, "Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?" So Moses feared and said, "Surely this thing is known!" (15)When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian; and he sat down by a well.
Moses’ life, as he knew it, was over. And it would take many years to rebuild it. But, rebuild it he did.
David was a wreck. Read of the account from 1Samuel ch21 v11 to 1Samuel 22 v2. It tells us how David had to feign madness so that he could get away and hide in the Caves of Adullam. His men heard of where he was and went and joined with him and he ended up with an army of 400 men.
(11)And the servants of Achish said to him, "Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing of him to one another in dances, saying: 'Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands' (12)Now David took these words to heart, and was very much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. (13)So he changed his behaviour before them, pretended madness in their hands, scratched on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva fall down on his beard. (14)Then Achish said to his servants, "Look, you see the man is insane. Why have you brought him to me? (15)Have I need of madmen, that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?" (1)David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. (2)And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him.
Peter was a wreck. Three different Gospels mention this account.
Matthew ch26 - (73)And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, "Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you." (74)Then he began to curse and swear, saying, "I do not know the Man!" Immediately a rooster crowed. (75)And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." So he went out and wept bitterly.
Luke ch22 - (59)Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, "Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean." (60)But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying!" Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. (61)And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." (62)So Peter went out and wept bitterly.
John ch18 - (25)Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, "You are not also one of His disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not!" (26)One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, "Did I not see you in the garden with Him?" (27)Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.
We all know how the stories of these three men worked out. If ever there was a train set back onto the tracks it was these three. And our Christian history is littered with other stories of Christ’s restoring, redemptive love.
John Bunyan was sentenced to 6 months in jail for preaching the Gospel in public. He spent nearly 30 years there because he kept preaching the gospel while inside jail. But it was while he was there that he wrote Pilgrim’s Progress.
Remember God’s Promise to Israel through the old testament Prophet Jeremiah…
Jeremiah ch31 - (3)The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. (4)Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel! You shall again be adorned with your tambourines, And shall go forth in the dances of those who rejoice.
So, take no thought for the anxiety which is around you at this moment in time. God is still in charge. He is still in control. Jesus is still nearby. We just need to give a little time for wounds to heal. For parts to be repaired. And for Jesus to bless us all again one more time.
Oh God, our Help in ages past. Our Hope for years to come,
Our Shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal Home.
Under the shadow of Your throne your saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Your arm alone. And our defense is sure.
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