We had been visiting for several days in a godly home, but where the young man of the family had recently and boldly proclaimed himself to be an unbeliever, an atheist. As a youngster he had just as emphatically professed to be saved. The change in his stand had occurred while he was in college and had been influenced by classmates to read and adopt the works of infidel writers.
During our visit this young infidel, John, had carefully avoided all opportunities for conversation with us. He must have known that we longed to remind him of the claims of Christ and had determined to thwart our desire.
The day before we were scheduled to depart, we were aroused early when the young man was leaving for work. As he went out to the garage for his car, he was whistling melodiously to the sweet strains of Londonderry Air.
Now, we thought, all opportunity to talk to John was gone. But this was not according to God's thoughts. Towards midway the young fellow came in, planning to join us for lunch on this last day of our presence in his parent's home.
As we chatted together, awaiting a summons to the dining room, John was sitting on the piano bench and occasionally striking a few chords. One said to him: "John, that tune you were whistling as you left this morning—`Londonderry Air'—is quite a favorite of mine."
"I like it too," John answered. "Have you ever sung these words to it?"
His fingers were already running over the keyboard and his baritone voice softly brought out the tune. And what were the words he sang? To our surprise the familiar words of John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16), re-arranged to fit the rhythm and to make a pleasing poetic stanza, were presented to us. Perhaps it was John's own arrangement of that most blessed portion of God's precious Word, for we had never heard that bit of Scripture so arranged:
"For God so loved the world," I find it written
In verse 16, John's Gospel, chapter 3—
"He gave His Son" who was for sinners smitten
When nailed upon the cross at Calvary.
"Such wondrous love, it passes human knowledge!
For Jesus died that we might ever live,
Eternal life! So none need ever perish;
This life to all believing souls He now will give."
Before we could quite recover from our amazement that this self-avowed infidel evidently took pleasure in thus handling the sacred Word which he had repudiated, we were called to the noonday meal. There John felt the necessity of haste to get back to his work and soon bade us good-bye.
Puzzled, we turned to the parents. They understood our unspoken question and hastened to give their answer. With tear-filled eyes they told of their long years of prayer that God might do a real work of grace in their boy's heart. Lately they had noticed a softening in his attitude, an increased desire for the things of God. "In fact," said the mother, "we feel assured that since the Lord Himself has begun this good work in him, He will complete it in His own way and time. It just remains for John to bow the knee."
We have never seen nor heard of John since. Both parents shortly thereafter went to be "with Christ"; and John, still known as a skeptic, was left to his own way. We still pray for the misguided man, and trust that in a soon coming day of manifestation we shall learn that later years we have proved the truth of the King James Version of Proverbs 22:66Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6).
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old he will not depart from it."