It was during the first Great War and many homes were saddened by the tidings of disaster in the early stages of that conflict. Knowing that God's message of peace, through belief in the blood of Christ shed on Calvary, according to the gospel, is the one grand cure for man's sorrows and distress, a servant of God sought to bring this heavenly comfort to his burdened countrymen. He had in times past seen much of the Spirit's work in the salvation of souls in the villages round about, and he wanted to begin meetings in an abandoned school house in an isolated area.
The few people who lived in the neighborhood were notoriously irreligious. They cared little for the gospel or for their own souls; but their children flocked to hear the glad tidings. God in grace touched the hearts of quite a number of them and they were saved.
Then the stir began, for these boys and girls began to tell in their homes and among their companions what great things the Lord had done for their souls. In fact, the village rang from end to end with the hymns they had learned to sing.
But as is always the case, where the Spirit of God is manifest, there Satan exercises its opposition toward the preacher and his preaching. Influence was soon brought to bear on the owner of the school building, and he refused to allow further use of it. Had Satan won? No! God can turn the heart of His own to accomplish whatever He desires.
A farmer, whose young helper had been brightly brought to the Savior at the meetings, heard of the enemy's attempt to stop the gospel work. Pleased as the lad's employer was with the happy changed life of the employed farm hand, the farmer said: "Never let it be said that the good work of saving sinners was brought to a stop here for want of a place to meet. If nothing else can be had, I will clear my barn and fit it up as a place for the gospel to go out.”
And he did. With long plank seats, lit up by oil lamps suspended from the roof, the barn was filled night after night with a congregation of earnest hearers. Old and young came to know their need of God's salvation, and were not ashamed to be ridiculed by those openly ungodly ones who had combined to molest the gospel preachers, and hurl abuse at them.
One of the most active in harassing the servants of God was a young lad, embittered because his brother had been killed in the Argonne. He was present one night when the evangelist spoke from the ever precious words of Isa. 53:55But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5): "the chastisement of our peace was upon Him." The speaker told of a soldier who had taken the place of his brother in the firing line, and was slain in his stead.
"What would you say if that young soldier who owed his life to his brother's death, should speak only evil of his dead brother? And what would you think if he abused all who honored his brother's memory? Friend, that is what you are doing to the Lord of glory. You scoff at the message of peace we preach, through the death of Christ, and ill use those who confess Him as their Peacemaker and Redeemer.”
These words went home to the conscience of the young scorner. The arrow of conviction pierced his wicked heart. He "saw his sin, and was shocked at its greatness.”
The rafters of the old barn rang again that night with the voice of praise. It was shared by a new-born soul who for the first time could sing:
"I hear the words of love,
I gaze upon the blood;
I see the mighty sacrifice,
And I have peace with God.”