A MISSIONARY, who preached the gospel in South America, once told the story of how a man and his family down there were converted through a rather strange circumstance.
The man was a farmer who raised hogs. Someone presented him with a Bible. But he was satisfied with his religion, and had no love for the Book. In anger and contempt he threw the precious volume into the pigpen.
In the morning, when he went to feed his pigs, lo and behold, he found them all dead. In solemn dread and dismay, he took out the Bible, thinking it was the judgment of God upon him for his wickedness in thus treating the holy Book. The result was that he and his family began to read those sacred Scriptures, and a new and wonderful light began to dawn upon their darkened souls. This led to the conversion of the man and his whole family. “The people which sat in darkness saw great light.” Matt. 4:16.
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John 3:19.
This farmer, however, and his family came to the light. They rejoiced to find that not only is God Light, but that He is also Love (1 John 1:5; 4:16). That light reveals the darkness and sin of our hearts, but it also points us to the Saviour God Himself has provided, who died to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.
The Scriptures tell us that every child of Adam is born in sin (Psa. 51:5); and we also read that “all have sinned” (Rom. 3:23). Peter tells us that we must be “redeemed,” not with “silver and gold,... but with the precious blood of Christ.” 1 Pet. 1:18,19. Those who are not redeemed will be taken away one day to everlasting judgment.
The reason why those pigs died rains a mystery. The missionary inquired as to what the covers of the Bible were made of, but was told that the covers remained intact. Apparently the pigs had not touched the Book. So, the poet was right when he wrote, “God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform.”
Before his conversion the farmer had religion — cold, lifeless religion. But now he had Christ—the Saviour and Friend, who would be with him all through life and then take him safe Home to heaven. Dear reader, what do you possess — religion or Christ?
ML-03/01/1970