ONE of my old workmates at St. Peter’s Foundry, Ipswich, is a living witness how the power of the Lord Jesus Christ turns the scoffer and reviler of God into a true christian. George W. made a laugh at all that is of God, but two christian men, by God’s grace, were determined to give him no rest until George truly repented and turned to Christ. In time God heard their united prayer, though they almost despaired of seeing their friend brought to God.
They induced George to attend religious meetings, and never did these two friends lose an opportunity of pressing home to him the words he heard. At length he began so far to change his ways as to listen attentively to the preached word, and indeed he tried to give up his besetting sin of swearing, and generally sought to do what was right. But George was trying in his own strength — he had not laid hold of Christ as his Saviour, and the result was, that the company of the workshop was too much for him, his efforts were all in vain, and he became worse than he was before.
After some time the two christian friends induced George to kneel down and pray God to grant him forgiveness, but he said he received no answer. Some months passed by, and it seemed as if he would never find Christ for his Saviour. On one Saturday night he turned to his praying friends, and, with his face deadly pale, said to one of them, “John, leave me alone, you have made me miserable. The devil has got too strong a hold on me. Oh, leave me alone.”
But John secretly rejoiced, for he felt sure that mercy was not far off for his friend. The two prayed together, and then God began to open George’s eyes a little, and to give him some hope for salvation. A few days after, while hearing the word of God preached, George decided that whatever happened, he would serve the Lord Jesus Christ, and God granted him pardon, and gave him the joy of his full and glorious salvation. Now he lives, rejoicing in Christ and serving the Lord, raised as it were from hell and the grave to a life of righteousness and peace.
I have written this simple but true story with the prayer that God will use it as an encouragement for young Christian workers like myself to pick out one of their friends, and then, with much earnest prayer, to seek God’s grace to lead such to the Lord Jesus Christ.
J. W.