Two atheist neighbors lived in the hills of North Carolina. One of them heard the gospel and was convicted of his sins. Soon he believed the Word and accepted the Lord Jesus. A few days later he went to his atheistic neighbor’s house and said: “I have come to talk to you. Perhaps you know that I have been saved.”
“Yes,” sneered the other, “I heard that you had been down to the meetings. And so you went forward for prayers. I am surprised! I thought you were as sensible a man as any here.”
“Well,” said the first, “I have a duty towards you. I haven’t slept much for two nights thinking about it. In my flock I have four sheep that belong to you. They came with your mark on them. I took them and marked them with my own mark. I know you inquired around, but could not find them. They are in my field now, with their increase. I want to settle with you if you are willing, or you can settle with me by the law if you’d rather.”
The atheist was amazed. He told the neighbor that he could keep the sheep—only please go away! He trembled at the thought that something had got hold of his old friend which he could not understand. He repeated, “You keep the sheep, but please go away.”
“No,” said the new Christian, “I must settle this matter. I cannot rest until I do. You must tell me how much I owe you.”
“Well,” replied the other, “pay me the worth of the sheep when they went to you and six percent interest. Then please go away and leave me alone!”
The Christian paid the amount and then doubled it. He went away, leaving his old friend upset and worried. What could have made his neighbor act like that? What could have changed him? It was now the atheist’s turn to be sleepless at night, and he had no rest until he too became a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and was an atheist no longer.
“Let your light so shine before
men, that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father
which is in heaven.”