The Welcome Home.

WE were sitting in our home-going train the other evening at one of the Glasgow terminal stations waiting the time for starting when presently there arrived at a parallel platform an express train from the South, from which there alighted a number of passengers, including some soldiers. Their bronzed faces, well used rifles, and burdensome military outfit, and not the least, their clay besmeared boots clearly indicated that they had come straight from the trenches in France.  All eyes turned with a kindly interest towards the young men, many of whom were met by friends, and hearty greetings were exchanged.
One scene attracted our attention.  A pleasant-looking soldier boy, not long out of his teens, walked down the platform anxiously looking for some one, when presently, we saw an elderly lady rush forward, throw her arms around his neck, and imprint a loving kiss on his weather-beaten face.  It was his mother.
A gentleman in the compartment, with a lump in his throat, remarked: "That sort of scene
Touches the Heart.
The whistle blew, and our train moved off, but the sight of that boy meeting his mother and the mother welcoming her son remains with us.  It was perfectly clear, the mother was glad to see her son, and the son was as pleased to meet his mother.  It was a mutual joy. 
One could not help thinking that if natural relations can produce such a joyful scene on earth, what must the meeting be on a Coming Day between the Saviour and the sinner saved by grace?  We read that He "for the joy that was set before Him, endured the Cross, despising the shame" (Heb. 12. 2).  In order to realise the joy of having His redeemed ones with Him in Glory, He left Heaven's highest height, walked through this scene of sin and death, died a Sacrifice for sin on the Cross of Calvary, and being raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, awaits the appointed "moment" (1 Cor. 15. 52) when He will burst the heavens and call from a warring earth, His tried and weary saints to meet Him in the air.  "So shall we ever be with the Lord'' (1 Thess. 4. 17).
Our blessed Lord will accord us a heavenly welcome, while we on the other hand, will be right glad to "see Him as He is and be like Him" for ever (1 John 3.2).
"He and I in that bright glory.
One deep joy shall share;
Mine to be for ever with Him,
His that I am there.'' 
JOHN GRAY, Glasgow.
"The Witness" 1917