The history of Peter Waldo of Lyons is full of interest. He lived about seven hundred and fifty years ago, and was a wealthy business man in his city.
He "had lived in great reputation as a merchant. Success had attended his labors, and he was known among his fellow-citizens as a man of honor, liberality and kindness of spirit.”
In the midst of his prosperity an event took place which led him to feel anxious for the salvation of his soul.
He was sitting in the company of some friends. After supper, as they were engaged in pleasant conversation, one of them fell to the ground, and when he was raised it was found that he was dead.
From that time Waldo became a diligent inquirer after truth.
He looked around and saw the people carried away by sin, and then seeking to satisfy a guilty conscience with the false doctrines and vain ceremonies of the religion which prevailed at the day. But in these, peace was not to be found. His mind could not be set at rest as to the great question, "How shall a man be just with God?”
He knew he was not fit to die; and when he asked "What must I do to be saved?" he was not satisfied with all the answers they gave him.
The Bible would have told him; but Waldo had not the holy Book. Rich as he was, he had not the best of all treasures; the few copies of the Word of God which then existed were in libraries to which the common people had not access. Besides they were all written in Latin, so that a person had to be learned in that tongue in order to read a Bible, even if he could by any means get sight of one.
After much labor, however, Peter Waldo was so happy as to own a copy of God's Word. It must have been a large sum of money that he gave for it; yet what a treasure it proved to him! He did not think the money misspent which procured it, or the time misapplied that he gave to the study of it. These were nothing in comparison with the value of the blessed truths which it made known to him. It taught him the "new and living way" of approaching God through Jesus Christ the only Savior and Mediator. It told him that a contrite and believing heart is what God delights in, and that it is heart-service which is acceptable in His sight.
Before, he was perplexed and troubled, now, as he rested upon Christ and His completed sacrifice he was peaceful and glad.
Peter Waldo felt like a new man; the burden was gone from his soul; light was there and comfort, for he had found "peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Earnestly now he sought that others should know the joyful sound of the gospel, and, as years passed, he made or caused to be made a translation of the Scriptures into the language of the people, and numbers of copies were written and circulated. Through these, many were brought to know the Lord Jesus as their own Savior, and some of the converts went two and two into the surrounding country. They set forth as hawkers of silk and small wares, and calling at the houses of the great or lowly, would sell what they could, and then bring out parts of the Scriptures which they carried with them, and read from, and spoke of them. They were called "The poor men of Lyons.”
So it was that many heard God's gracious message. Persecuted and martyred some of them were, but the truth spread and was used of God for the deliverance of souls.
Let us, like Waldo, value the Word of God, read and study it for ourselves, and seek to pass on to others that which lives and abides forever.