Illustrating the power of the Word of God
An authentic story has come down from the pioneer days of this country, which illustrates the fact that although men may ridicule the Word of God, and deny its solemn authenticity, yet in their hearts they have more confidence in it than they are willing to admit. As today, so there were then, evil adventurers in many parts of the country, which because of its newness and vastness could not be properly policed. These man preyed upon travelers, often stealing their valuables and murdering them. There were no railroads, and horseback was the usual mode of travel.
A Virginia banker, who was chairman of a noted infidel club of that day, was once traveling through a part of Kentucky, having paper money secreted on his person in the amount of $25,000. When he came to a lonely forest through which his track led, he recalled that he had heard of murders and robberies thereabouts, which were reported as occurring quite frequently.
After penetrating the woods for some distance, he made the startling discovery that he had missed the path and was lost! It was almost dark, and he did not know where to turn to escape the threatened danger. In his alarm he suddenly noticed a dim light in the distance. Urging his horse on, finally he came to a poor-looking cabin built of logs. He knocked at the door, which was opened by a tall, rough-looking woman. In his nervous state he found her appearance alarming.
In answer to his inquiry about lodgings, she replied that her husband was out hunting and would presently be home. Meanwhile, she directed him to where he might stable his horse. Having cared for his beast, he entered the house with feelings that can better be imagined than described. Here he was with a large sum of money, and perhaps in the house of one of the desperados who were the terror of that district! Around the room on the walls were several guns, pistols and knives, and the sight of these things did not quiet his feelings.
In a short time the man of the house returned. Clad in a deerskin suit with a bearskin cap, he was the typical frontiersman of that day. He had not been very successful in his hunt, and was wearied with his search and therefore in no talkative mood. The traveler was anxious and fearful, so he secretly felt for the pistols in his pockets, and fixed them so as to be ready for instant use. He determined to defend himself as best he could.
Bedtime was comparatively early in those parts, and when pointed by the man of the house to the bed he was to occupy, and asked to retire, he declined, saying he would sit by the fire all night. The man urged, but the more he urged the more alarmed the infidel became. He surmised that this was his last night on earth, and that the pressure being brought on him to retire was only part of a scheme to place him where he could not protect himself. His infidel principles gave him no comfort. His fears grew into perfect agony. What was to be done?
Finally the backwoodsman arose; reaching up to a wooden shelf, he took down an old book and said: "Well, stranger, if you won't go to bed, I will, but it is my habit to read a chapter of the Holy Scripture before I do so.”
What a change these words produced! Alarm was at once removed from the skeptic's mind. Though calling himself an infidel, and the chairman of the infidels' club, he found that after all he believed in the Bible. He felt safe! He felt sure that a man who kept an old Bible in his house, who read it, and bowed his knees in prayer, committing himself and his household to God's protection, was no robber or murderer! He listened to the Scriptures, and the simple prayer following the reading. At once he dismissed all his fears and that night lay down in the rude cabin and slept as calmly and soundly as he ever did under his father's roof.
Furthermore, from that time he stopped reviling the Bible and became a sincere Christian, often relating the story of that eventful night to illustrate the folly of infidelity.
An infidel of note said on his deathbed, "The only argument against the Bible is a wicked life." How true! The Bible and a wicked life can never agree, for when the Word of God gets a place in a man's heart, sinful ways disappear. They cannot dwell together. The Psalmist said, "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee." Psa. 119:1111Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. (Psalm 119:11).