YEARS AGO the Lord laid it on the heart of a missionary to begin a work in the south of Bolivia. The people there thought the gospel was merely man’s ideas, whereas it is the “glad tidings” of God’s wonderful salvation. Inspired by certain ones who did not want the gospel preached there, the people began to persecute the missionary and his wife.
This went on for some time, until one night, about midnight, a man in great excitement came hurrying to the missionary’s door and told him of a plot to kill them both. He said that a drunken mob of about 60 men, armed with rocks were on their way to stone them to death. This dear man, at the risk of his life, had come to plead with the missionaries to move out quickly. But where were they to go? The only way out to safety was the very road along which their enemies were coming.
The missionaries dressed hurriedly and putting a few of their belongings in their little pick-up truck, they started off in the darkness. Sure enough, down the road they could see the band of men coming towards them. Uttering a brief prayer to God for help, the missionary turned the headlights on full, and keeping his hand on the horn, he drove straight at the drunken mob. Completely taken by surprise, the men fled helter-skelter to get out of the way, and falling back on both sides they left a clear path enough for the truck to pass. Stones were thrown but through the Lord’s mercies they fell short.
They drove a long way down the river bed, which is often used for a road in certain seasons; then the missionaries stopped and asked the Lord to guide them as to where they might go. This He graciously did. Pushing on to another section of that province, just before daylight they arrived at the home of a dear Christian man, who was a district judge.
“What brings you dear ones here at this hour? asked the judge in surprise. They told him what had happened, of how they had been stoned out of the little village.
“This is a serious matter,” said the judge; “the Governor must be notified.”
The missionary pleaded with him to spare the men, as he freely forgave them. He said they were but poor deluded fellows, who had been led on by others. But, the judge was insistent. So he accompanied them to the Capital where he informed the Governor of what had happened.
The Governor gave orders to bring the culprits under armed guard to the Capital at once. Neither the missionary nor his wife slept that night, but prayed that the Lord would intervene on behalf of the poor men.
The next morning twelve leaders of the drunken band were brought in. They were imprisoned another day and night without food or water by order of the Governor. Again the missionary had but little sleep. The next morning he went to the Chief of Police requesting an interview with the Governor. The Governor received him kindly.
“Sir,” said the missionary, “I love these people, and request a very great favor of you. Would you kindly permit me to take all these men back home again without their being pushed? In my heart I have already forgiven them, and I have asked the Lord that you might grant me my petition.”
“They will kill you,” exclaimed the surprised Governor; “they should be punished.” Leaving the missionary standing there he went out. He returned a little later, however, and said, “If you feel you would like to forgive these wicked men, then you may take them home.”
The Chief of Police ordered two guards to bring the men out of the prison. He gave them a stern warning, and then they all climbed into the pick-up.
The missionary and his wife drove off with the men, and that afternoon they arrived at the very spot where they had thrown the stones. Here they stopped and the missionary asked the men to get out of the truck and listen to God’s Word. Opening his Bible, at Luke 23:34, he read in both Spanish and Inca, the solemn words of the Son of God as He hung upon the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Then he told them of Jesus and His love for poor sinners, and of how He was his precious Saviour. Just as the Lord Jesus forgave His enemies, so he was happy to follow in His steps and do the same by forgiving them.
There was scarcely a dry eye among those rough fellows. While he spoke, they took off their hats, and then they embraced him and his wife too, assuring them of their love and friendship, and of their sorrow for what they had done.
Those men kept their word, for which the missionary ever thanked the Lord. Later he was able to direct one of the leaders to Christ. Many of their children came to know Him as their Saviour.
The Governor was so moved by this incident, that it led to his conversion. Later on he too confessed Christ as his Saviour.
Dear young friends, this same precious Saviour will grant you, a sinner, His free pardon too, if you will in simple faith trust in that precious blood He shed for you on Calvary’s cross.
“And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them.” Luke 7:42.
“Being justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Rom. 3:24.
“In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Eph. 1:7.
ML-03/07/1971