Not many years ago, when at our station at Teianhsien, in China, a very interesting answer to a dream came before me.
Having many things to attend to, we made it a practice not to see visitors before nine o'clock in the morning. But on the morning that I am referring to, at about six o'clock, I was told that a visitor was in the guest room desiring to see me. Naturally, I sent word asking if he could come later on, but the reply came that he was desirous of seeing me at once, as he was anxious to hear the message that I had to tell him. Anon I went to the guest room and found a middle-aged man waiting for me. After the usual salutations, he said, "You have a message for me?" To which I replied, "Yes, I have a message for everybody." He answered, "You have a special message for me, but you will not understand until I have explained myself." We then sat down, and he told me the following story.
His home was in a village many miles away from Teianhsien, and his family was considered to be wealthy. In the village they had their own temple, and for many generations they had been great worshippers of idols and of their ancestors. For some years, however, he himself had not been satisfied, and had been seeking how he might obtain happiness in the next world. Some eighteen months previously, when out in the country, he had found, engraved on a stone slab by the roadside, an account of how a man had found happiness, and it told how a journey was to be taken to a temple that was on the summit of the Li Mountains.
After reading this account, our friend made all preparations for the pilgrimage to this temple, promising to count his steps as he went, and after every six steps to bow towards the temple. This was a long and tedious journey, but it was at last accomplished. When he reached the temple, although he fulfilled all the rites and ceremonies, demanded in the temple during his stay of over a year, he was still unsatisfied, as he had found no joy, peace or happiness. Now he related to me the most wonderful part of his story.
He told me that, three nights previous to his coming to me, he dreamed that he saw a man standing beside his bed, who told him that he was to arise and have breakfast, and after the meal he was to descend the mountain and cross the plains until he came to the Teh River; there he would find the ferry boat on his side, and by it he was to cross the river near to the North Gate. There a man would be standing, and he was to inquire of him where a foreigner of the name of Wang (my Chinese name) lived. This foreigner would tell him how to obtain the happiness he was seeking. Our friend then told me how, when he woke up, he at once arose, had breakfast, descended the mountain, crossed the plains, found the ferry boat on his side of the river, crossed, and reached the North Gate. There was the man standing, and when he inquired where the foreigner lived, was told to go through the city till he came to the South Gate, and then to pass on till he came to the last house. There he would find the foreigner, Wang. He said: "Now I have come, and I have found everything to be according to my dream; I wish you to tell me the message that you have to tell me."
What a joy was mine as I sat there, to be able to tell out to this man the gospel message! He had no knowledge whatever of a living God. From childhood he had been taught to bow down to graven images. I had to commence from the beginning and explain as simply as I could about the living and true God and creation; of our lost and ruined condition; and how God, in His wondrous grace, had so loved the world that had got so far away from Him in sin and iniquity, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
I was able to bring before him the wonderful story of the Savior who was willing to bear our sins and iniquities for us on the Cross, so that, through His death and shed blood, we could have eternal peace and joy. We sat together for the whole day, talking of the things of God, and towards evening he had the joy of finding peace through believing on the Lord Christ, who had died for him. How he rejoiced in the knowledge of the sure salvation that he had just found!
We then retired for the night, but about 4 a.m. he was knocking at my door and calling me to get up. As soon as I saw him, he said: "Oh! do not delay, but give me Scriptures and books, for I must get away to my home, that I may tell them of the wonderful Savior who has done so much for me. I must go and tell them without delay."
After this he again visited us on two occasions, about a year apart, requesting fresh supplies of Scriptures and books and telling us how those in the village had gladly received the gospel, and many had turned from their idols. It was a joy to see how happy he was in the Lord.