SAMPSON WILDER was a merchant and a missionary in France. Often he would preach the gospel and distribute literature as his business took him from place to place.
One day his business called him to return to an area which he had previously visited and found there a number of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. He had prepared a large case of Bibles, Testaments, and tracts which he set up on end at the back of his carriage.
The road went through a rough part of the country where he had previously distributed Bibles and literature. Since that time, he had found out that some men had gone around after him, collecting and burning the literature and warning the people against reading any more of it. So he had decided that on this journey he would not distribute any books in that area. However, God who loves all men and whose ways are past finding out, had decreed otherwise. "... He doeth according to His will... among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest Thou?” Dan. 4:3535And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? (Daniel 4:35).
As the carriage jolted and swayed on the rough roads, the top of the Bible box broke open. One by one, the Bibles and Testaments were shaken out onto the road where they were picked up both by travelers and by others living in that area. All along the way God scattered His Word, and for several days Mr. Wilder was visited by those who had found the books. He gladly told them to keep the precious books, encouraged them to seek the Saviour, and prayed with them.
Soon Mr. Wilder was asked to hold a meeting in the area. An official who came to stop it went away with a Bible instead of interrupting it. So God prospered His work among these people, and we trust that we shall meet many of them in heaven.
The Lord Jesus said: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heath 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).
Can you truly say, as these French people could have said, “I rejoice in Thy word as one that findeth great spoil” (Psalm 119:162162I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil. (Psalm 119:162))?
ML-06/25/1972