WOLF COLLAR was an Indian chief who lived with his tribe in the Canadian northwest. Until he was fifty years of age he had also been a medicine man. Then he heard of God and Jesus the Saviour. Soon he gave up all his pagan worship and medicine craft, saying that they were only evil, and his desire was not to be a half-hearted Christian. He wished God to cleanse his heart thoroughly and to keep it clean.
All this meant a great deal to Wolf Collar since in giving up his role as a medicine man he sacrificed his wealth, for he would receive anywhere from one to six ponies for a single case, and in those days horses were an Indian’s riches.
But in coming to know the Lord Jesus as his Saviour Wolf Collar had gained infinitely more than he had given up. He had begun to learn that “A man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” Luke 12:15. The Lord Jesus said: “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.... For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matt. 6:20,21. “The blessing of the Lord it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it.” Prov. 10:22.
Wolf Collar had the blessing of God to such an extent that the missionary wrote later: “Nearly the whole of this dear man’s family are now followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, and it is deeply interesting to see him working so hard learning to read. He is doing exceedingly well. Just today Chief Little Ax remarked to me, ‘Wolf Collar is one of those whom the Holy Spirit teaches, his brains work quickly. He does not walk, he runs.’ "
Wolf Collar was like David who said, “I will run the way of Thy commandments,” and again, “I made haste and delayed not to keep Thy commandments” (Psa. 119:32, 60). Are you, dear reader, quick to learn God’s Word as this dear Indian chief was?
Besides Little Ax, Wolf Collar had another with him who also sought to learn. His name was Leather, and he was about as tough as his name. He was much younger than Wolf Collar. He had been a terror, but when the Lord Jesus comes into one’s life what a change He makes! The missionary also wrote: “Less than two years ago (in a way) there was no one less welcome in the mission house than Leather. He was both impudent and surly, but now! what a change! His beaming face and gentle manner make him most welcome, and a dear earnest fellow he is. At present he is living with Wolf Collar, and the two of them are working in every way they can to make known the good news of the Saviour’s love to their friends.”
The Lord let Leather meet with an accident in which he broke his leg. For six months he had to be with the missionaries in their hospital, where he learned to read and play the autoharp. So God who makes all things work together for good to those that love Him, made this forced time of rest a rich blessing to Leather.
Wolf Collar, Little Ax and Leather all could say that the Lord Jesus was their light, and “whereas once we were blind, now we see.”
The missionaries also told of one little Indian girl who was brought up in the mission school. She would go home and teach her old grandmother the wonderful stories she had learned about Jesus and His love, of how He died for all of every race, no matter what their color might be.
These dear Indians have since gone home to heaven to be with Jesus. We hope our reader is also trusting that same precious Saviour; and if so we shall all meet up there with Him.
ML-10/29/1972