GEORGE was a little fellow born in a mining town. At just nine years of age he began working in the mine for no less than 14 hours a day. Little George never went to school like most boys and girls do, and he grew up scarcely knowing his right hand from his left, except that he knew how to use both in fighting. And so it was he began a life of sin and crime and at nineteen he was serving a long prison term.
One of his companions in crime said to him, “Well, George, I might go to heaven, but you are sure to be in hell.” This struck home to poor George’s heart. The words, “Sure to be in hell,” haunted him, he started trying to improve himself, he went to church, he joined societies, he signed temperance pledges, and did many things. All was to no purpose. Seventeen weary years passed. Then someone took him to a humble little gospel meeting, where the speaker spoke with considerable power on two verses of Scripture: “For 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 3:1616For 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).
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24).
Poor George’s heart was touched and opened, and he believed the glad tidings. He was brightly converted to God.
“Does God love a man like me?” he exclaimed. “Then the world shall know about it.”
For 40 years he lived to preach the gospel in his own quaint and simple way. Often he held an open air meeting at the mine head before going down. He also preached in the city, where a crowd of 400 might be seen standing in a ring waiting for him to come.
One night a man in the crowd shouted out, “George, you’re mad!”
George replied: “You should have seen me 20 years ago, running around in my unconverted days, seeking a fight with anyone who would take me on. You would have had good reason to say I was mad. But, man, they said the Apostle Paul was mad. So I am glad to be in his company.
“Only you can never say to me, ‘Much learning doth make thee mad,’ as was said to Paul, because I never got any schooling; but I have been to the Higher Grade even if not to college. It is where our Lord Jesus says, "‘Come unto Me, all ye that labor, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me.’ Matt. 11:28-3028Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28‑30). And, man, He’s a wonderful Teacher and very patient.”
His homely and faithful words, spiced with quaintness, suited his hearers, and many were converted. Some remain unto this day.
The grace of God that brought salvation to George Morton brings it by the same gospel message to you, dear reader. Be honest with yourself, and with God. Then, whether your life has been like George’s, or much more refined, you will just pray the prayer of the publican, and say, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” God will hear you, and justify you. You will be saved.
F.B.H.
ML-10/25/1970