MR. TIEN was a dear Christian Chinese colporteur who lived in the walled village of Chueh in the province of Shantung. Here also lived a rich man and his family in a very fine home.
One day a band of brigands made an assault on the village. A terrible fight followed, and in the end the bandits were victorious. They broke through the defenses and began to loot the village. One of the first houses that they entered was the home of the rich man. They took all they wanted, but they were greatly disappointed to find the women and children were not there. The rich man thought his family would be safer in the humble dwelling of Mr. Tien the colporteur than in his own fine dwelling, so he sent them there as soon as the bandits began their attack. The bandits had hoped to carry off the man’s children and hold them for a ransom. Then a traitor said to them: “I can tell you where the women and children are. Come with me.” He took them straight to Mr. Tien’s house, and said, “You will find them there.” The bandits carried off the rich man’s wife and children, and also Mr. Tien’s own son and niece. In the night they set off with their captives and booty for a stronghold away in the mountains.
Poor Mr. Tien was away selling gospels at the time when he heard the bad news. He hurried home and found it was all true.
One morning a stranger stopped him on the street and whispered: “I have a message for you. You must travel alone and unarmed to such a place way up in the mountains, and when you get there you will receive further instructions.” Then the man disappeared.
“What does this mean?” Mr. Tien asked himself. “Is this a trap to catch me?” His friends begged him not to go into the bandit country, but Mr. Tien believed that God would take care of him anywhere, so he shouldered his haversack, full of gospels, and set out for the mountains, selling the books as he went along. As he entered the wild hilly country his courage almost failed him. All along the way there were armed men watching him from the high rocks. On he went until a gruff voice challenged him: “Who are you?” He replied, “I am Tien of Chueh village.”
“Oh you have come, have you?” said the voice. “Keep on up the pass and you won’t go wrong.”
He was challenged again, and as he passed from post to post each time the sentries allowed him to go on. These robbers always spoke of their victims as though they were lottery tickets — some very valuable, and some a blank, because poor. They reckoned Mr. Tien a blank. They called him “Poor Tict.” The sentry would call out, “Pass, Poor Ticket.”
At last Mr. Tien found himself in what was more like a military camp than a village. It was crowded with armed men. Mr. Tien was led into the house where the robber chief had his office. To his great surprise he was received as an honored guest. The chief called for tea to be served, and he even poured it out with his own hands for Mr. Tien. Furthermore, he apologized to the colporteur for having brought him so far away from home.
“I could have sent your children back to you,” he said, “but I was afraid that harm might come to them on the road. I am sorry my men made the mistake they did. They did not know that these were your children.” Then he noticed that the colporteur was carrying a haversack, and said: “I see you have brought some of your books with you. I have often seen you selling them at the markets and fairs. How much do you earn?”
Mr. Tien said: “I receive eight dollars a month and also a commission on the sales.” “That is not enough,” said the bandit, “but it’s good work that you are doing. Now I suppose you would like to see your children.”
Mr. Tien followed him joyfully as he led the way to where the prisoners were guarded. He soon had the joy of seeing his children and of hearing from their own lips that they were safe and well. He did not have to pay anything to have them released.
“Here they are,” said the robber chief. “Take them home and forgive my men for bringing them away.” As Mr. Tien was leaving, the robber chief patted him on the shoulder and said, “Work hard at your preaching and book-selling.”
So Mr. Tien wended his wav home, wondering greatly.
That was thirty years ago, but things have changed in China since then. Many faithful Christians have died in communist prisons and many more today are suffering for the name of Christ. Still God watches over His own dear children everywhere; they are precious in His sight, and one day soon He is going to gather them all home to heaven, and they shall be forever there with His own dear Son.
Dear reader, will you be there?
Stand up for Jesus, nobly stand,
Firm as a rock on ocean’s strand;
Stand up, His righteous cause defend,
Stand up for Jesus, your best Friend
God is our refuge and strength Psalms 46, I
ML-10/26/1969