My childhood was spent in a well-to-do home in which the Word of God was quite unknown. Never in that home was God’s name mentioned - except perhaps in mockery.
I could not understand a God who seemed to care nothing for sickness, poverty and suffering; who permitted war, crime and death unchecked. Where was that God who was proclaimed to be Light and Love? Our Father? One who could permit His children to live as they do?
I set to work to persecute the Church of God by all means in my power. Being of the opinion that foreign missionaries were doing anti-patriotic work, I opposed them continually. I even caused arms to be hidden in the premises of the Ambriz Mission, with the intent that they should afford evidence of the Mission’s being involved in revolutionary activities! So from my childhood till I landed in prison I fought against God - the God of love.
My aim was patriotic; in my way I meant well -yet all was of the devil and based on lies and fraud.
When I was arrested and imprisoned, I devoted all my energy to my defense. I studied piles of books. I did everything to cover up my own tracks by unmasking the faults of others. I worked unremittingly against the day when my case would be brought before the court, being persuaded that anything and everything I could do for my own defense was quite legitimate.
Only God and I knew all the facts, and I well knew that I, and I alone, was guilty. Not even my poor wife so much as dreamed what was the reality.
A fellow prisoner supplied me with a Bible. I smiled scornfully, and began a controversial correspondence with him. But in the course of this correspondence I became gradually convinced that there was something mysterious about the Bible -it all pointed to Christ! The Bible written at various times, by various writers, under a variety of circumstances, formed but one complete whole -Christ! He was the solution of the mystery!
A tremendous struggle began. Could the Bible really be the Word of God? Could I call on Him? I made an experiment in prayer - and God answered me!
Day by day I carried on my study of the Word of God, and better and better did I appreciate it. A day came when light burst upon me! It was His work, not mine. I was not overcome by human agency, but by the Word of God. It was to Christ I surrendered.
At last I gave up my defense. I decided to sacrifice the large sum of money involved - I would make full confession. No human influence was involved in my decision; it was solely due to the Word of God brought to bear on me.
For five hours I addressed the Court, making full public confession. Why did I? It was just the work of God’s Spirit in me. He worked on me; He transformed me, made a new man of me.
In all the years of my tribulation He has never failed me. He has said: Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me. Thousands of times He has delivered me. He is the living God.
This was the old Alva Reis - now I am a new Alva Reis! v
I saw Him stretched upon the cross,
The Son of God - for me!
I saw Him bow His kingly head
And die on Calvary’s tree.
I saw those pierced hands and feet
Scarred with eternal scar;
I felt His loving, breaking heart -
Call mine from depths afar.
I writhed within my chains of sin,
I groaned in my despair -
As lightning in the blackened storm
His radiance smote me there.
And all my life was changed to light
By love - His love divine -
The judgment for my sins was His,
The love that took them, mine!
O hungry souls that toil and strain
In the dark world of sin,
Know that one heart is seeking you
With life you could not win!
Look up! A substitute in heaven
Is lifting wounded hand
To show His own that His were nailed -
Love’s everlasting brand.