L. WAS the son of a Christian mother who I, had sought to store the minds of her children with the Holy Scriptures, knowing them as able to “make wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Tim. 3:15). Thus was the incorruptible seed of the word of God sown in the soul, and it is this when used of the Spirit which produces the new birth. (1 Peter 1:23). Alas! the enemy was there to catch away the seed, and apparently to trample it under foot; but God was, and is, over all. Satan may for a season seem to triumph, but he cannot hinder the accomplishment of the purposes of grace. God’s ear is open to a mother’s prayer, and it is answered according to His omnipotent power.
L. early left the shelter of home for educational advantages, and later on for medical studies. Away from the influence of his pious mother, the natural enmity of the human heart to God soon displayed itself, the fruit of that evil principle, sin, which is in us all by birth as children of Adam. It is only when we have been born of God that we have a nature capable of enjoying the things of God; for this we never can do with our fallen nature as children of Adam.
The subject of our narrative, on becoming duly qualified for the medical profession, went a sea voyage. On his return he paid a visit to the home of his childhood. But what of the interval? He had made choice of the broad road that leadeth to destruction. As yet this was not fully known to the praying mother. The Word of God was read morning by morning in the family. It was customary for each one to select a verse to read. The morning after L.’s arrival, when it came to his turn to read, he opened the Bible handed to him by his mother, and read Job 30:29, “I am a brother to dragons and a companion to owls.” Referring to this in later years he said, “I loved my mother devotedly, but I wanted to show my opposition to religion.” Each, reader having finished, the mother closed her book, and dropping upon her knees prayed for her family—pleading especially for L. to be brought to know the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour, and that he might never be the companion of dragons and owls.
Years rolled on. The mother departed to be with Christ and the son continued in open opposition to God; still he could never forget his mother’s prayer, though God’s time for its answer was yet to come.
An open-air preacher came and told out the message of salvation on a piece of common quite near L.’s house. He was in his garden, and the gracious invitation sounded clear as a clarion in his ear. “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isa. 1:18). “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Rev. 22:17). God makes no selection in His invitation. He is “long-suffering” (and oh! had He not been so in this instance?) “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9). And what is this repentance that God desires all should come to?
It is taking His side against ourselves, and, instead of justifying ourselves, judging ourselves to be what we are in His sight, lost and undone sinners, by nature and by practice.
The doctor stooped down under his garden wall, crushing himself against a peach tree to avoid being seen, and there he heard every word. The “whosoever” invitation, so long familiar, came home to him now by the power of the Holy Ghost, and he came and received the water of life freely. He had heard the text many years ago, but never felt its power until now, and there was wrought in his soul real repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ—the One who loved him and gave Himself for him.
He was indeed a trophy of grace, and this was soon manifest to those around him. He was well versed in human learning, but now he had found something to supersede it all, and said, “I feel such an infant, I don’t know my A B C in spiritual things,” for there seemed to him such fullness in the unsearchable riches of Christ.
His residence was in a large agricultural district, and he had been a great man for public dinners, plowing matches, &c., but now in Christ he had found pleasures which are for evermore. He lived to witness for Christ for some years. Deafness came on with old age. A servant of the Lord visited him when near the end of his journey, and wrote on his slate, “How is it with you now?” “Of course Christ,” was his reply, adding—
“On Christ the solid rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand.”
It was not long after this he departed to be with Christ.
Beloved unsaved reader, whether a professor or a careless soul, you need Christ. He is still inviting, still saying, “Come unto Me.” Man is still refusing, though his day is rapidly coming to a close. Christ’s day is at hand, when God will deal with man in judgment, and there will be no more offers of grace. Now He is saying “Come” —then it will be “Depart.”
L. L.