Rogilio was a bright young Mexican lad. His early childhood was spent in the northern part of his native land at a time when Bibles were very scarce there. His father, not a very devout man, found one of the sacred volumes among his own books. Glancing over the pages he found that it contained "good moral teaching," and presented it to his young son. Rogilio in turn showed it to the village priest who, wonderful to relate, assured him that it was "the best book in the world.”
After his father's death, Rogilio studied his Book with great delight. He learned to repeat verse after verse of the melodious writings and found comfort and pleasure in the beautiful phraseology. But one day he made a grave error. He took it to the village school to show to his teacher.
"Ave Maria!" the teacher exclaimed, "where did you get that book? It is an accursed Protestant work.”
Poor Rogilio! A new and younger priest had replaced his old friend who had so heartily approved of his treasure; and now the teacher showed the volume to him. Zealous for "the church," he cast the boy's beloved Book into the fire.
As its pages curled and blackened in the flames, so Rogilio's broken heart shriveled and changed within him. After many nights of tearful loneliness and grief for his lost volume, the boy sought forgetfulness among the dissolute youths of the village. He lost all interest in higher things and was content to live only for the pleasures of the day.
Some years later Rogilio, now a grown man, had drifted to El Paso, Texas. One night, out of curiosity, he and a companion entered a hall where an evangelist was preaching the gospel. As the two young men were making their way to a vacant bench the evangelist was reading aloud from a large volume. Familiar words fell on the ear of our friend Rogilio. Before his companion could restrain him he rushed forward before the whole assembly, crying, "Sir, have the kindness to give me back my book! That is my book you are reading from. They took it from me years ago, but it is mine.”
It had not occurred to Rogilio that there could be more than one copy. He stretched out his hands confidently, fully expecting to receive his own book again.
The amazed evangelist stood speechless. Finally he said: "My dear young man, please explain. Why do you say this precious Book is yours?”
"It is mine," Rogilio answered more calmly, "and I can prove it." To the astonishment of all assembled he recited passage after passage that he had memorized in his boyhood, proving to them that he had, in some measure, made the Word of God his own.
After further conversation with him, the evangelist presented to Rogilio the volume from which he had been reading, and pointed him to the portions that, if he received them into his heart, would bring eternal blessing to his soul.
Again the sacred scriptures brought comfort to the young man's heart; and through belief in Him of whom they speak he has become a true child of God.
"Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me.”