A missionary, who had been in Siberia, told this deeply interesting story. He was visiting one day among a collection of Tartar tents. In one he found a poor native lying in the last stages of leprosy. As this missionary looked upon him, he lifted up his eyes and fastening them on his face he said, “I know you.”
“How can that be?” replied the missionary. “Have you ever seen me before?”
“Oh yes, I have,” replied the dying man. “Didn’t you preach in a bazaar somewhere three years ago?”
“I can’t really tell,” replied the missionary. “I have no particular remembrance of it.”
“Don’t you remember,” said the man in a tone of wonder, “you stood on the steps of a house?”
“Oh yes,” answered the other, “I remember it now.”
“And do you remember what you preached there?”
“No,” said the missionary, “I don’t recall.”
“You told us,” said the man, “about Jesus who died to save sinners, and that men of every nation might come to Him, and He would receive them and save them. Oh, sir, I never heard such things before. I then believed in Jesus, and received Him as my Saviour; but I never heard of Him before or since. Now I am dying, and am looking to no one else but Him to help me.”
How wonderful the love of God to send the gospel to that poor man so that he might believe and go to heaven! And it is wonderful too that he had the assurance of his soul’s salvation before he left this world. All this and much more God gives to those who trust in Jesus, His beloved Son.
Soon after, this dear man went home to be with the Lord.
Children He will now receive—Little ones who Him believe—Take them in His arms of love, Carry them till home above.
ML 12/01/1968