AN ENGLISH missionary was in Central Africa where he preached the gospel to the natives there. He wanted to make them understand the meaning of faith. So he said to them, “Listen, see that water over there!” and he pointed to a pond nearby. “Well, you never saw that water get hard, did you?”
“Oh no!” they answered in astonishment at such a thought, for water never freezes in Africa.
“Now, believe me,” he went on, “in the country where I come from the water gets so hard that you can stand on the top of it.”
On hearing this one whispered to another, “The missionary is tellin’ lies.” He overheard their remarks and remembered it.
Some time later the missionary returned to England for a visit and took along with him one of the African boys who heard him preach that day. Winter came and one clear frosty morning the missionary took Sam for a walk. The ponds and rivers were completely frozen over, and the children were sliding and skating on the ice.
Remembering what he had said in Africa months before, the missionary said, “Sam, let’s go for a walk on the hard water and try it.”
Sam was afraid to go at first, but the missionary took his hand and tether they went out on the frozen pond. Then jumping hard on the ice, the missionary said, “Now do you believe what I said in Africa about the water getting hard?”
“Yes,” replied Sam, “I believe it now.”
But that was not faith on Sam’s part. He believed when he saw. Had he believed the word of the missionary when in Africa he heard him tell of how the water got hard in his country, that would have been faith, even though it sounded impossible.
So it is with God, dear young friends. He has spoken. Have you believed His Word? He has told you that you are a sinner and ruined through sin, that you cannot do anything to win His favor or save yourself. But He has also told you Jesus has died and that if you believe on Him as your Saviour you will be saved. Faith is simply believing God, because He says it.
ML-05/16/1971