05A.14. The Only Way

14 -- THE ONLY WAY

There is a story, that during the Civil War the conduct of some of the soldiers in the camps near Washington, D. C., was such that President Lincoln issued an order that no more furloughs be granted. Shortly after this order was issued, a soldier received word that his wife was at the point of death; "Come home at once." He applied to his commanding officer for leave of absence but was refused on the ground of the President’s order. He made his way to the General’s headquarters and placed the letter before him; he read it and as he brushed the tears from his eyes he said, "My dear man, I wish I could grant you this, but Mr. Lincoln has issued an order that no furloughs be granted, I am sorry but I cannot do it." With a sad heart the man turned from the General’s tent and started back to his own quarters. He had gone only a little distance when he heard the General calling him. As he turned back to the officer’s tent, the General said, "Don’t let your hopes get too high, but I have been thinking if you could get into the presence of Abraham Lincoln and get his signature on a furlough you could go home. There is not one chance in a thousand that you can see him, but here is a pass that will get you through the lines and it is up to you to see the President when you get to the White House."

Taking the pass he thanked the General and made his way past guard after guard until at last he stood outside the door leading into the president’s office. As he approached, a guard standing on either side of the door lifted their guns and said, "Halt."

"What do you want?" they asked. "I want to see the President."

"You can’t see him."

"But I must."

"But you can’t," said the guards.

"It is a case of life and death," said the man, "and I must see him."

"It is also a case of life and death with us," the guards replied, "and you cannot."

He handed them the letter he had received from home; they read it and as the tears trickled down their cheeks they handed it back saying, "We are sorry we cannot help you, for we too have loved ones at home; but we are placed here with an order to allow no one to pass without permission from the President and if we broke that order we should be shot before sunrise, and we cannot let you by." So close and yet so far, the poor man turned away and walked out of the White House; his heart was crushed and the tears were flowing freely down his cheeks. When he reached the entrance the President’s little son sat on the steps playing; looking up at the man and seeing the tears on his cheeks he said, "What’s the matter, mister?" Not knowing who he was, but glad to find someone who wanted to share his sorrow, the man told him of his dying wife at home; how she was calling for him, and of the efforts he had made to see the President and get a furlough, but had been unable to see him.

"You come with me," said the boy.

Taking him by the hand, he led him down the hall until they came to the president’s door, the guards again placed their guns across the door and said, "Halt." The boy said nothing but stopped in front of the door and waited.

Presently it opened from the inside and a gentleman who had been talking to the President walked out; the guards stepped aside to let him pass and quick as a flash the boy sprang to the door and said, "Papa, can I come in?"

"Yes, son," said Mr. Lincoln, "you may come in."

"Papa, can I bring my friend in?" The great President for a moment forgetting the affairs of war, and anxious to please his son said, "Yes you may bring your friend in if you want to." The guards then lowered their guns, the boy reached back and caught the man by the hand and led him into the presence of his father. He handed the letter to Mr. Lincoln who read it, and taking up a pen he wrote out for the man a furlough, and with a grateful heart and a word of thanks the man hurried away to the loved ones at home. The thought I want you to get from this story is the fact that the only way this man could get into the presence of Abraham Lincoln was through his son; and the only way you and I will ever get into the presence of God is through the blood of his Son the Lord Jesus Christ.

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