LEE CHING TANG held a position in the Chinese tax office. Unlike many of his profession, he was honest and respected. A friend of his had persuaded him to join “The Sect of the Golden Pill,” whose followers looked up to the great Indian teacher, Buddha. Lee Ching hoped to find peace of mind by this; but he was disappointed for this teaching did not give him what he craved for.
One day on his way to work he passed a small crowd around a man who seemed to be explaining what was contained in a little book he held in his hand. Lee Ching stopped to listen, and ended up buying one of the small books for a penny.
That evening Lee sat down to read the little book which proved to be The Gospel by Luke — the glad tidings about the blessed Man, Christ Jesus.
He was impressed. “This writer,” he said to himself, “begins well. He traces the course of all things accurately from the first... Good!” The story soon gripped him. It was translated into such clear and simple Chinese that it did not seem like a translation. The long list of names in chapter 3 impressed him deeply, for the Chinese reverence their ancestors and a long genealogy appeals to them strongly.
He read on and on. Never before had he read the gospel, and the sayings and doings of our Lord Jesus, with all those wonderful miracles, came to him like a new discovery. He knew the ancient books of his own land but there was such simplicity and truth in this book that he had not met in any other. It was about a real Man — one of such exquisite beauty of character, so tender, so loving, so strong, that Lee Chang Tang felt his heart going out towards Him.
The trial and crucifixion of the Lord affected him deeply. When he came to the centurion’s words, “Certainly this was a righteous Man,” he found himself saying, “That is true — is true — a righteous man!”
It was late when Lee Ching went to bed and he did not sleep much. A conflict had begun in his soul. The very friend who had introduced him into The Golden Pill had since become a Christian and now he was trying to persuade Lee to become a follower of Jesus too. He had written Lee saying, “At last I have found real peace of mind,” and no wonder, for we read, “being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:11Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1)). That was what Lee Ching wanted more than anything. He had heard about Christians, but had not been drawn to join them. Now things were different. If to be a Christian meant to be a follower of that wonderful Man, Jesus, he had been reading about — well, he was almost persuaded already.
He could hardly concentrate at work the next day. Hurrying home when his office closed he began to read his little book. He had only paid a penny for it, but it was becoming the one Book in the world to him.
That evening as he read, a great black scorpion crawled out from under his arm and came to rest on the open book. Lee Ching was frightened. “What means this?” he wondered. “Is this a sign that the beautiful teachings of this Book are poisonous, and harmful to our nation as some people say?” But then the scorpion slipped back the way it came and he saw it no more. Nothing happened; it had not harmed him. Perhaps there was some virtue in the Book that could save even from scorpions, for had he not read, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions...” (Luke 10:1919Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (Luke 10:19))?
You can see that Lee Ching was what we call “superstitious.” For many days he puzzled over that scorpion. What was it a sign of? And behind this question was another: Should he become a follower of Jesus? At last he decided to put it to the test.
One evening he took three pieces of paper. On one he wrote the name “Confucius"; on the second he wrote “Buddha"; and on the third he wrote “JESUS.” He rolled each up and placed them in a bowl before his altar. Then kneeling down he prayed: “O God in heaven, I am utterly ignorant and do not know which way to take. Help me now to choose whom Thou wouldst have me follow — Confucius, Buddha, or JESUS. I cannot see the right way without Thee.”
Then with trembling hand and closed eyes Lee Ching groped for the bowl and took out one roll of paper. He opened his eyes, straightened it out, and read — “JESUS” that NAME which is above every name, the sweetest name on earth and in heaven.
That decided it for Lee Ching Tang. The hour was very late, but he started out for his friend’s home several miles away. He banged at the door impatiently. His friend awoke, wondering what could be the matter. Going downstairs he was amazed to find Lee Ching at the door. His amazement turned to joy when Lee Ching burst out: “It’s settled now! I am a follower of Jesus!”
The two friends sat up till dawn, searching the Scriptures, and talking about the way of the Saviour.
One of the strict rules of The Golden Pill was that all members must be vegetarians and not eat meat of any kind. But at breakfast that morning Lee’s friend called for meat. They ate it together and thus cut themselves off from the past. It was a sign that they had now started upon a new road.
That day they set out to visit another Christian, one of the Lord’s servants, whom Lee’s friend knew already. He received them with joy and from him they learned more of the wonderful truths about God and Christ, His beloved Son, and what it means to be a Christian.
The last news we had of Lee Ching Tang was that he was living a truly devoted Christian life and was seeking to win others for the Saviour.
They who seek the Lord come by many paths. What matters it by what path they come if they find Him at last?
Have you found Him, dear reader? If not, may the story of dear Lee Ching Tang awaken in your heart a desire to know this blessed Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who came into the world to save sinners, and whose love demands your soul, your life, your all.
ML-07/25/1971