Philip was a young man who had been brought up in a Christian home, but he had never trusted the Lord Jesus as his Saviour as those in his family had done. Many prayers had gone up for his salvation, for he was at that time the family prodigal in the far off country of Australia.
Philip was the favorite of the family, and being a great letter writer, wrote of his pleasures and fun in long letters every week.
In spite of many prayers, these letters still continued, and the family began to fear their prayers were unheard, when suddenly the miracle took place. Philip lived twenty miles from the post office, and when he had written his weekly letter he used to ride through the bush to mail it, returning the next day.
One afternoon they had just got their weekly letter from him, full of racing news, and were regretting the lack of any change in the boy, when they saw another letter on the table. It read:
“While riding yesterday through the bush, like Saul going to Damascus, I was suddenly arrested by a wonderful vision. Like a lightning flash I got an intense conviction that I was a lost man, riding down to destruction. I reined up my horse, burst out into a violent perspiration, and was so weak that I had to dismount. After awhile I returned slowly home, my one desire being to relieve my agony.
“I found the Bible you gave me at the bottom of my box, but could not seem to get comfort from it; so next day I went to see the bishop. Somehow I got no peace or rest from him, and now, dear Mother, do tell me how I am to be saved from this awful condition. I am suffering, and long for your reply.”
The intervening weeks seemed endless, so great was Philip’s distress of mind. The pleasures of sin were forgotten. Conscience had awakened him and there was one great problem— how to get rid of his sins. He counted the weeks and wondered how soon the reply could reach him.
The family decided a telegram should be sent, but what words to send, they did not know. So once again they knelt to pray, and then into their minds there came the verse: “And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both.”
Without a moment’s delay they sent this message to the prodigal son. When he received it he says he saw in a moment that he was freely forgiven through the merits of Christ, his Saour, for, of course, he knew the gospel story from which the words were taken.
The prodigal, having come to himself, now “arose and returned to his father.” He wrote home saying that he was coming back to England on the first boat to leave.
How wonderful are the ways of God! Dear friend, you too may have this Saviour by simply putting your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. If you are unsaved, you are like the prodigal, but God is waiting to receive you with open arms. His Word says, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28).
The Lord Jesus has paid the price of our redemption. His work was finished on the cross, and if you will come to Him with all your heavy burden of sins, He will wash them away in His precious blood.
ML 05/17/1959