ROGILIO was a bright young Mexican boy, but his parents were quite poor. In that part of his native land where he spent his early childhood Bibles were very scarce. One day his father found one of the sacred volumes among his own books, and glancing over the pages he found that it contained “good moral teaching,” so he gave it to his son. Rogilio in turn showed it to the village clergyman, who 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 its wonderful writings, and found comfort and pleasure in it. But one day he made a great error. He took it to the village school to show to his teacher.
“O!” the teacher exclaimed. “Where did you get that Book? It is a bad book!” and 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. After many nights of tearful loneliness and grief for his lost volume, he sought forgetfulness in the unholy company of the godless youths of the village. He lost all interest in the things of God and was content to live only for pleasure.
Some years went by and Rogilio had grown to young manhood. He had drifted to El Paso, Texas, and 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 ears of our friend Rogilio. Before his companion could restrain him he rushed forward before the whole audience exclaiming, “Sir, have the kindness to give me back my Book. That is my Book you’re 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 friend, 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, 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 which he had been reading from. He pointed him to passages that if he received them into his heart, would bring eternal blessing to his soul.
Again the sacred Scriptures brought comfort to young Rogilio’s heart, and this time, through believing in Him of whom they speak, he became a true child of God.
Has our dear reader, like Rogilio, trusted the Saviour of whom the Scriptures speak? “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31).
ML-10/15/1972