Madras, on the lower east coast of India, lay sweltering and dormant in the oppressive heat. Europeans in the area, mostly composed of officers and men of a British battalion, knew better than to expose themselves much to the out-of-doors during the day. Thus there was a great deal of enforced idleness.
On one such day the news was passed around: "Hebich is coming!" This became for a while the main topic of conversation at the officer's mess.
You ask: "Who was this Hebich?”
Samuel Hebich was a missionary whose labors in the furtherance of the Gospel were greatly blessed in India among whites and natives alike. Realizing, however, the great need of the "white heathen," as he called them, he spent much time visiting the garrisons, and many British soldiers and officers were led to the Lord through his ministry. Many and startling are the tales of this remarkable old missionary, for he was utterly fearless when sure of his Master's orders. Among the men of the garrison his methods of approach were so unique that a visit from him occasioned much excited interest.
A few days after the news of Hebich's coming was received, a young officer was lying in his room during the hottest hours. He was trying to keep cool and listlessly dreaming. Suddenly he heard footsteps approaching, and in walked Mr. Hebich!
Yes, it was he—a tall, strange-looking man with a long, loose-hanging coat, a large hat, and a huge umbrella. Indeed, he was a sight to make one laugh were it not for the dignity of his bearing and the penetrating look in his eyes which spoke of tenderness, kindness, and sympathy.
The officer felt embarrassed and ill at ease, even in his own rooms; but Mr. Hebich, who seemed quite at home, asked him politely to take a seat. Taking one himself, after a short silence, the missionary said: "Get the Book.”
His hearer knew at once which Book he meant, and fetched his Bible. He never read it himself, although he possessed a copy. "Open the Book at the first chapter of Genesis and read the first two verses," said Hebich.
The officer obeyed, and read like an attentive pupil: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”
“That will do! Now close the Book and we will pray," said Hebich. So they knelt down and Hebich prayed. The officer was unable to keep his thoughts in order, and was glad when he heard "Amen." After this, his strange visitor bowed and said farewell. He shook hands very solemnly before leaving.
The following day the officer, unoccupied as he was the day before, was again lounging in his room. This time his thoughts were in a turmoil, and in his heart raged a fierce battle. He dreaded another encounter with the missionary, yet realized a deep desire for better, higher things than he had ever known.
Once again there was the sound of footsteps, and Hebich entered. The performance of the previous day was exactly repeated, his pupil much embarrassed, Hebich apparently quite at ease. Again the officer was asked to read the first two verses of Genesis. Again they knelt down and prayed together, but this time he listened to the prayer-such a prayer as he had never heard before. Hebich talked as to an intimate friend, telling his God and Father all about the young officer, imploring Him to reveal to him his need that he might find salvation and flee to the open arms of the Redeemer. Again he took leave in the same solemn and earnest manner as the day before.
Left alone, the young officer felt strangely condemned. The Bible lay open on the table. This convicted soul felt drawn to read for himself those wonderful verses which began to have such a power over him. Like a pupil who had been sent back to his lesson, he sat down before the Bible and again read the verses till they burned into his very being. He was "void" and "without form"; sin had made him so. The "darkness" of indifference and unbelief hid from his own view, like a thick fog, his utter ruin and God's love, His heart and God's face. "And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”
Had this strange man brought him, by these words and his prayer, in touch with the living God? Was this queer sensation which he felt coming over him perhaps the moving of the Spirit of God upon him? If ever a man was bowed and humbled, if ever a heart was convinced of its sinfulness and corruption, as well as its need of redemption through the Lord and Savior, it was he. How he spent the time till the next day he did not know. All thoughts of the heat were put aside. The dawning of a new sunrise, the first pulse-beat of a new life, stirred in his soul.
The next day at the same hour he heard the footsteps again. His Bible lay open before him. He was waiting for his teacher. He rose to meet Hebich and took his hand.
“Oh, Mr. Hebich," he said, "so much is plain to me now, but what must I do?”
Looking at him with the pity of true love, the missionary said: "My son, we hear that God said: 'Let there be light.' Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.'" He then pointed him to the Lord Jesus, who bore his sins on the cross of Calvary. Then, by faith he looked to Christ glorified at the right hand of God. In Him he found his heart's longing fulfilled.
Finally, they knelt in prayer; and for the first time in his life the young officer prayed, without a book, from the heart. He had found life and peace, and thanked God for His great salvation.
Unsaved friend, in the empty darkness of your unbelief, will you not open your heart to the light of the glorious gospel of God? Only by receiving, through faith, the Son of God who is that Light can the precious gift of eternal life be yours.