For many years, in traveling with our trailer home, we were permitted of God to carry the good news of salvation into out-of-the-way places. The arrival of our "rig"—an odd sight in those early days of mobile homes—was a sure bid for an audience. In one country village our arrival caused quite a stir. However, with little ado we pitched camp by a small stream and made things comfortable before attempting to make known our business.
Taking our stand on an open piece of ground not far from a German blacksmith's shop, we began to preach. We knew that farmers often congregated near such places, and we were not long without an audience. By word of mouth they spread the news of our meetings, and in a few days people came from miles around, perhaps curious as to our message.
As our meetings went on, the German blacksmith pumped his bellows discontentedly. This new religion was opposed to his views, and though crowds increased he "didn't know but what such doings were bad for his business." We sought to continue "holding forth the word of Life," even as we followed the scriptural injunction: "As much as lieth within you, be at peace with all men."
While going the rounds one day, I called at a roadside cottage. The mistress answered my knock and as is usual in the sunny south invited me in. I had just seated myself when she offered me a glass of cold buttermilk. No curiosity was shown as to my business nor present errand, and I finally had to explain to her something of my mission there. On learning that I was a preacher of the gospel, she promptly informed me that she was a freethinker, and was bringing up her family as skeptics.
"I too am a freethinker," I replied. "I think freely with God's thoughts."
To this she had no answer, but courteously received my invitation to the meetings. That evening I greeted her and her two daughters with those gathered in the village square.
For two weeks we "stormed the fort," and it became evident that the sword of the Spirit was piercing the hearts of the listeners. As we preached nothing but "Christ, and Him crucified," and held fast to the truth "as it is in Jesus," no protests were made and the people kept coming. Such news, they said, they had never heard before. Even the blacksmith admitted that our simple message had found lodgment in his heart, and that he was rejoicing in the knowledge of sins forgiven and certainty of eternal life in the Father's house.
Even among the avowed Freethinkers was conscience aroused. The two daughters of the freethinking mother were now searching the Scriptures for themselves. Past records were scanned; past deeds were "weighed in the balance and found wanting." The teachings of the school of free thought offered no refuge from the wrath to come. They listened with rapt attention to startling messages of God's love and justice.
The father of the two girls had now returned home. Learning of dissension between mother and daughters, he began to pronounce "anathemas." He sent one girl to work in the city and forbade the other to attend the meetings. He was too late. The blessed Word that had wounded now began to heal the wounds. Christ revealed Himself as the Savior of sinners and they gladly received His gracious invitation: "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matt. 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28).
For a little while the mother held stubbornly to her freethinking. For her, it must have been an unhappy little while before she sent me the welcome message that she was now "resting sweetly in Jesus, her Lord."