Ira Sankey was a rich singer of Christian
songs and was widely known and loved throughout all of America. He was the
George Beverly Shea of his day.
Ira had served the Union during the Civil
War. During that horrible war, he often found himself on picket duty, and he
would wile away the hours with tunes he’d learned at home and in church. Even
then his music was nothing short of marvelous to hear. Restless troops
slumbered peacefully beneath it’s spell.
It was a fine night. A cloudless sky offered
Ira a better view of the stars than usual. His songs were more copious and more
beautiful than ever this evening. It was then that a Confederate soldier “drew
a bead” on the sentry across the river; the sentry with the short name of… Ira.
The Civil War ended, and years turned into
decades.
A riverboat rounds the bend, and we hear
music. Suddenly, on the night air, we make out the rich baritone of a gifted
singer. We board that boat, and go into the dining hall.
The fine singer has just concluded his
program, and sits down. Applause fills the air, and the crowd begins to
converse, and eat meals that have grown cold, as they sat in rapt attention.
One particular man steps up to Ira, and
introduces himself. There is a bit of small talk, and Mr. Sankey recognizes a
Southern accent. The stranger begins to ask some mind-stirring questions;
questions that revive the war years again.
“Mr. Sankey, were you at such and such a
river, on such and such a day during the war?” Ira’s face registered curiosity
and interest. “Yes, I was there. How could you know?”
The stranger smiled a whimsical smile, and
asked another question. “Were you on sentry duty during the few days your unit
was camped out on that river?”
Again, the answer… “Yes, I remember it
well.” Finally, the last question, “Did you sing aloud as you sat sentry?” Ira
blinked. “Yes, Yes, I always sang on sentry duty.”
Well, you could have knocked the stranger
over with a feather. He looked at Ira with an expression that registered such
love, and wonderment that Sankey could not draw his eyes away from him.
“Mr. Sankey, I was just across the river
from you that night. I was also doing sentry for my unit. Upon hearing your
songs, I scanned the banks, and noticed you there, all alone. I thoroughly
enjoyed your music, and lingered there for what seemed like hours. And then I
realized that I had a job to do. I raised my rifle to my shoulder, and “drew a
bead” on your chest. I put my finger to the trigger, and exerted a bit of
pressure. Again, and again, I paused, and lowered the weapon, only to bring it
back up to my shoulder. In the end, I could not shoot you. Your Christian songs
were too beautiful, and beckoned me towards home. Had I shot you, it would have
been like killing Christ Himself.”
We cannot know what hand “Fate” will deal
us. We do know Who holds our hand. We can rest assured that “all things work
together for good to those who love God.” (Romans 8:28, KJV) We can be sure
that He will use us ‘til He is through, and will ultimately give us a home in
heaven.
Paul speaks of this concept in the
wonderful book of Philippians. “I cannot know whether God will leave me here,
or whether He will take me on to my reward. Perhaps for your sake, He will give
me favor to remain for awhile.” (Chapter One, MPV)
“But
this life, and the lust of it is passing away, but he that does the will of the
Lord endures forever.” (1st John 2:17, KJV)
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