DONA was a farmer’s daughter who lived with her parents in Brazil. Her mother had brought her up very religiously to say prayers but none of that family knew the Lord Jesus, nor His love and saving power. Among her various prayers Dona would ask God to enlighten her mind, and as she grew older this became not only a prayer often repeated but a longing desire of her heart.
One day Dona went to visit a sick friend. During the visit she spied a large book sticking out of a box of rubbish under a table. She asked her friend what it was. Her friend told her it was a Bible, but as it was a bad book it had been thrown away. Dona asked if she might have it, and her friend very reluctantly gave her consent.
Dona had heard of the Bible and something within her told her that it contained the light she was seeking. She hurried home with her prize and carefully hid it in her bedroom. She feared her mother would find out she had some bad book and that this would bring on one of her fits. Night after night, by the light of a smoky little lamp, Dona read the precious Book, beginning at Genesis. She got very little sleep but at length she finished the Old Testament, and then she came to the Gospels. With deepening interest she read for herself the sweet story of the Saviour’s life and death on the cross. Her heart was stirred and she longed to understand it better.
About this time she heard that some people called “crentes” (believers), held meetings some 20 miles from her home. They were having what they called “preaching the gospel,” and studying the Bible — the very Book she was reading. Furthermore, a special speaker was to be present. A great desire to attend that meeting took hold of her, but how was she to get there? If her family heard of it they would be horrified, and her mother would have one of her fits. However, Dona was determined, and took into her confidence a friend of the family, named “Big John.” She sent a secret message to him asking him and his family to visit their home and then to invite her to go back with them for a visit. Accordingly, Big John “casually” turned up at the house and the result was that Dona’s parents, nothing doubting, allowed her to go with them.
For the first time in her life Dona attended a gospel meeting. She was the best listener there as she prayed fervently for the light to shine into her dark mind. The preacher announced as his text Genesis 1:33And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. (Genesis 1:3). “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.” He then went on to show how that the Lord Jesus came into this world as the true Light, to enlighten men and women, and boys and girls, as to their sinfulness and lost condition, and also as to the love of God for them.
There and then Dona received that blessed light into her soul. She believed the gospel message that night and opened her heart to receive the Saviour who died for her sins upon the cross. The next day she returned, rejoicing in her newfound light, and to shine for Jesus in her home.
Her mother was in bed and Dona feared to tell her lest she should have a fit. But she was too full up with the good news to hide it. God went before and an old aunt, staying at the house, took her part. First the old aunt was converted; then Dona’s mother was saved, and eventually the whole family was converted and came to rejoice in Christ. Her mother rose from her sick bed and had no more fits from the day of her conversion. Dona went on faithfully for her Saviour. She had to endure much opposition and reproach from her neighbors, yet she lost no opportunity of letting her light shine in the surrounding darkness. That work of grace continues until this day.
How is it with your soul, dear reader? Has that light shone into your heart? Have you believed the gospel? God grant that you may while it still goes forth.
“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Cor. 4:3, 4, 63But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:3‑4)
6For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6).
ML-08/25/1963