IT need be no matter of surprise that worldly men should sneer at all efforts on the part of Christians at reaching the souls of their fellows by the gospel.
The carnal mind is enmity against God, and this often shows itself in hostility to all those who labor in the mission field both at home and abroad.
Quite recently I have met with some who poured great contempt upon the spiritual awakening that visited our country during the visit of the late D. L. Moody. “It is nothing but excitement,” said one; “it doesn’t last! Why, the whole city of B — was converted during Moody’s mission; and where are they now? I never meet one of them.”
This has often been said to me, but this leaves God out of the matter. To begin with, is it any wonder that when the dread realities of the eternal world, the awfulness of sin, and the certainty of judgment are urged home in real earnest, that men and women, and children too should be awakened into a state of alarm that from its intensity appears to the indifferent onlooker as mere excitement.
“Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
was the startled exclamation of those who listened to Peter’s words at Pentecost — “and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41).
“Ah, but those were Pentecostal days! “the reader may say. True, but has the power of God diminished in the smallest degree? Unbelief has taken possession of Christendom, and many true Christians are not looking as they might for definite results. But wherever there is a simple and faithful testimony to Christ and His atoning work, wherever the Word of God is preached in the power of the Holy Ghost, and wherever continuous and believing prayer goes up to God, there indeed will results be found both in the conversion of sinners and the refreshing and upbuilding of the people of God.
“Where are all the converts of Moody’s mission? “I have met them by the score — I think I should be well within the limit if I said that I have met hundreds. When meeting a Christian for the first time, I constantly ask when and how they were brought to a saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and times without number the answer has been, “When Moody was preaching at So-and-so.”
“Well, I never meet any,” was the rather curt reply.
“You remind me,” said I, “of a story I heard the other day. An old Indian colonel who was known to have a special dislike for missionaries and their work was one day invited by a number of thoughtless young officers to dinner, and in order that they might have a nice bit of fun they likewise invited an old missionary lately returned from the Indian mission field. They had agreed amongst themselves that after dinner they would start the old colonel on his favorite topic of abuse of the missionaries and their work — not a very polite thing on their part, no doubt, but what is not man capable of in his enmity against Christ? ‘Away with Him: crucify Him’ was their cry when Christ was here on this earth, and many there are who would, if they could, rid the world of all His followers.
‘Say, Colonel, did you ever meet any mission converts in India?’
‘Mission converts!’ exclaimed the Colonel contemptuously. ‘Mission rubbish! I call it. Money will convert any man to anything you please. They’re nothing but a lot of hypocrites, missionaries and all.’
Turning to the missionary who was sitting silently at the opposite side of the table, a young fellow asked, ‘Do you hear that, sir? What have you to say?’
‘Did I understand you to say that you had been in India any length of time, Colonel?’
‘Yes, was there thirty years, and never saw one. I know what I’m talking about.’
‘Did you ever see any tigers, Colonel, when you were in India?’
‘Tigers! I should think I did, and shot’ em, too,’ replied the old warrior with an air of something approaching to pride.
‘Well now, that’s strange, Colonel. I was thirty years in India, and I never once saw a tiger,’ quietly replied the old missionary.
‘Perhaps you weren’t looking for one,’ was the unwary rejoinder.
‘Ah, that’s it, Colonel; I was looking for converts, and not for tigers. It seems to me you must have been looking for tigers, and not for converts.’”
The tables were completely turned upon the old mission-hater.
But why should men be less in earnest over their spiritual and eternal interests than over their material and passing concerns? We have read of some of the great financial crises when panic has seized upon the members of the New York Stock Exchange. Men rush wildly about from morning to night shouting their monetary transactions, and emerge from the day’s excitement foaming at the mouth, and with coats torn from their backs — and all this because of the gold that perisheth. And what of the soul? what of that never-ending hereafter? what of that eternity of woe or weal?
Reader, are you saved? And if not, why are you not saved? Because you have never seen yourself to be a lost sinner. And yet lost you are, and will be to all eternity if you have not believed in the Lord Jesus Christ.
If you do not believe that you are a lost sinner, you will never flee to the Saviour. But when once you do believe that you are lost, and on your way to eternal perdition, you will not be able to rest until you know for certain that you are saved. And this, thank God, you may know before you lay down this gospel magazine.
“Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake... And there was great joy in that city” (Acts 8:6-8).
And, reader, if you will believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, you will be saved, and greater joy than you have ever known before will fill your heart.
Christian reader, are you as eagerly looking for converts as the old Indian colonel was “looking for tigers”?