A story is told of a terrible storm that was raging across the eastern part of the United States, making the progress of the train difficult. Among the passengers was a woman with a child, who was concerned lest she get off at the wrong station. A gentleman, seeing her anxiety, said: “Do not worry, I know the road well, and I will tell you when you come to your station.”
In due course the train stopped at the station before the one at which the woman wanted to get off.
“The next station will be yours,” said the gentleman.
As they went on, in a few minutes the train stopped.
“Now is your turn, Madam. Get out quickly!”
The woman took up the child and thanking the man, she left the train. At the next stop, the brakeman called out the name of the station where the woman had wished to get off.
“You have already stopped at this station,” called the man to the brakeman.
“No sir,” he replied, “something was wrong with the engine, and we stopped for a few moments to repair it!”
“Oh, no” cried the other man, “I put that woman off in the storm when the train stopped between stations.
As they went back they found the lady dead (frozen to death in the storm) with the child lifeless in her arms. It was the mistake of wrong directions being given.
Still more terrible is the result of misdirecting souls. We must preach the original salvation message given to Peter in Acts 2:38:
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
James Poitras 