Many years ago, a Hindu convert came to an American missionary to be baptized. Now, it happens sometimes that persons ask to be baptized without being truly converted at all; they merely exchange the profession of one religion for that of another; but I am glad to tell you that this dear Hindu had been really-”saved” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)), and washed front his sins, in the precious, blood of Christ. At his baptism he took the name of Kai Das, which means “the servant of Christ,” and we shall see how well it suited him. It was his delight to serve his blessed Master, and to go about in his native country, preaching the glad tidings of the grace of God.
But traveling there is not so easy as it is here, and especially in the part where he lived it was attended with many dangers. As he was riding along late one evening, on his little pony, six highwaymen attacked him, and asked for his money. He handed them all he had, which was scarcely five annas (about fifteen cents), and they then stripped him of nearly all his clothing. On looking it over, one of them discovered his watch. What a lovely thing! They had never seen one before, and Kai Das was questioned as to its use and its history. After satisfying their curiosity, he quietly remarked,
“The most precious thing I have, you have not found yet.”
Dear children, can you guess what this was? The robbers certainly could not, and they wondered where he kept it!
“Give it at once,” they said.
“Wait a bit first,” he replied, and much to their amazement, he struck up a hymn in their native language. Would you not like to have seen this dear captive, all undisturbed in spirit, singing the Lord’s praises in the midst of these fierce men? It reminds one of the scene in Acts 16; Paul and Silas singing praises to God at midnight in their prison. You might say there was not much in their surroundings to make them happy, and besides, after having “many stripes” laid upon them, their bodily suffering must have been great. Ah! but they possessed the same “precious thing,” which Kai Das spoke of, and that was the secret of their joy!
Well, when the hymn was finished, he went on to tell his captors of the blessed Saviour, who left His Father’s home on high, and came down to this poor world to suffer and to die in the sinner’s stead. His love for sinners had made him willing to undergo all this suffering that they might be saved. Would they all take their place as guilty ones before Him? Then He would receive them, one and all, (see John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16), and John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)). In a word, Jesus was his precious treasure, and he longed that Jesus might be theirs.
The hearts of the robbers were touched; they restored the stolen goods, and their leader invited Kai Das to his own house. Here he was able to speak to many more about his Master, and we may hope the good seed thus sown brought forth fruit in due time.
And now, dear young reader, let me ask if you have yet responded to the call of the loving Saviour? He stands ready, waiting to receive you. O, come to Him without delay, and you will then own a priceless treasure, which none can ever take from you.
ML 10/23/1938