Some years ago, two Chinese Christians, Mo and Li, were working together for the Lord in the Kwang Tung Province of China. Day by day, they traveled on foot, preaching the gospel—the good news of salvation. Sometimes they preached in villages and sometimes at little, lonely, hillside houses. Every day they tried to speak to someone about the Lord Jesus Christ. They had tracts which they handed out and little copies of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John which they sold to anyone who could buy one.
As the days passed, the two men found themselves out in the country. There were fewer houses and villages. The hills were steeper, and the scenery became more rugged and beautiful.
At last there were no more houses, and finally the path they were following disappeared completely. Mo and Li had to scramble down the side of a hill, take off their sandals, roll up their trousers, and wade down the shallow riverbed.
They had waded only a short distance when they saw a man standing on a sandbar, watching them. They quickly waded to the other side of the river to talk to the man. They gave him some tracts and asked him if he would like to hear about Jesus.
The man did not answer, but just looked straight ahead. Then Li noticed that Mo’s knees were knocking together. Mo, who was standing beside the man, had seen the big gun the man had partly hidden in his clothing. As the man slowly pulled out the gun, both Li and Mo quickly realized he was a bandit! Li prayed a silent prayer, asking God to protect them and help them. Li knew that the bandits in this part of China were cruel and would do anything for money.
The bandit began to question the Christians. Who were they? What were they doing here? Were they police or soldiers? The two men answered each question truthfully. While explaining that they were Christians, they also told the bandit that the Lord Jesus loved him.
As the three men talked, it was soon evident that there were other bandits in the woods along the river. One by one they slowly came out to the sandbar. It wasn’t long before Li and Mo were surrounded by bandits! They searched through the canvas bags the two Christians carried. They were looking for only one thing—money.
While they were searching Mo and Li, one of the bandits found a small card. He handed it to the bandit chief. A name was printed in large Chinese letters in the center of the card, and underneath was the title of the person. On the back of the card, the owner had written a sentence, and then signed it.
The chief took the card and read it carefully. The others all crowded around to read it, too. They read it several times, reading first one side and then the other. Then the bandits had a muttered conversation among themselves. Finally, the chief asked, “How did you get this?”
“A friend of mine gave it to me,” answered Mo. “He told me I could get help and protection from anybody in this area just by showing them this card. Will you help us get to the next village?”
“No!” snapped the chief. “We’re going the other way. Here, take your things and go.”
With that, the bandits left the two Christians and disappeared into the woods. Both Mo and Li thanked the Lord for answering their prayer by protecting them. They continued on and found their way to the next village without any other problems.
Now, what did the card say that changed the minds of the bandits? Before I tell you, can you answer this question: How dangerous is the road you are traveling? I don’t mean the street you live on or the one you take to school. The Bible tells about two roads; one is a broad road that leads to death, and the other is a narrow road that leads to life (Matt. 7:13,1413Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matthew 7:13‑14)). Each of us would like to travel the road that leads to life. The entrance to that road is the Lord Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for our sins. If we believe that we are helpless sinners and accept the mercy that is offered to us by God, then we are saved. It is the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ that saves us. He loves us so much that He died on the cross, shedding His blood so that we can go free. Mo and Li had the card with instructions to be set free by the bandits. It is only the Lord Jesus Christ who can set us free from the power of Satan.
What did the card say that set Mo and Li free? Mo had been in the capital city of the province two weeks earlier. While there, he had given some tracts and books to a government official. This official had asked questions about Jesus and had talked to Mo for a long time. Hearing that Mo planned to go into the country, he took out his official business card which had his name and title on it. He turned it over and wrote on the back, “If this man meets either soldiers or baits who wish to harm him, this card will protect him.” Then he signed his name.
The government official was the commander of all the soldiers in the area. They had to obey their commander’s orders on the card. But what about the bandits? Why did they obey these orders? The bandit that Mo and Li had met on the sandbar was the chief of the bandits. He was also the commander’s brother: After he read the instructions and name on the card, he allowed Mo and Li to go free.
Are you free? The Bible gives us God’s instruction on how we can be set free. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:3636If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:36). When you accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you will be free from Satan’s power. Then you, too, will experience God’s daily care for you, just as Mo and Li could ask the Lord for help and be freed in such an amazing way. “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.” Psalms 34:77The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. (Psalm 34:7).
ML-07/12/1981