Don Pancho, a Honduran ox- driver, lay unconscious for hours. He had fallen drunk at his doorway, after having been brutally attacked by a man whom he had injured earlier in a drunken brawl.
When he came to himself, he was lying in bed in his sister’s home. His head and hands were bandaged and he was weak from loss of blood. Thinking he was dying, he inquired, “Sis, will I ever crack the whip over my oxen again?”
She did not answer but sadly glanced out the window. He guessed her thoughts and moaned, “No, I am not going to recover; I fear my hands are gone.”
However, his terrible wounds got better gradually, but he threatened the life of the man who had caused him all his suffering.
While convalescing he became increasingly restless. One day his sister found a book, and handing it to him, said, “Brother, I have found our one and only book in the trunk. What is it?” As Don looked at it he replied, “It is an old Spanish Bible. I’ll read it.” The hours sped by as he read God’s Word and he was greatly absorbed while turning the pages with his bandaged hands.
“Sis,” he said one day with surprise, “these are strange words, ‘Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you.’ How could I ever love the man who cut me up and ruined my hands?”
Then he said, “I’ll read more of the Book. Maybe it will tell me the way to love my enemy.” This was his great problem for which he must find a solution.
Don Pancho went on reading the precious Word. Then he read Jesus’ cry on the cross, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” He read Stephen’s cry as he was stoned, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.” He also read, “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Turning each page his interest greatly increased and he wondered, “Where, oh, where can I find this peace and love for my enemies?”
Then one Sunday he slipped quietly into a mission hall and heard the very same gospel message he had read in his old Spanish Bible, how that salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ and is not earned by good deeds. As a helpless sinner that night he accepted Christ as his Saviour. He found at once that the old hatred for his enemy had gone and peace and love filled his soul.
As a result of the profession of his new faith Don Pancho met much persecution from his former friends and neighbors. In spite of this he remained faithful to his Saviour. He was ready to tell others of his new found peace and joy and of the One who had died on Calvary’s cross that all might have pardon for sin and the assurance of eternal life.
Dear reader, are you enjoying this pardon that comes with the assurance of sins forgiven?
Accept this loving Saviour now, and have that peace and love in your soul. Then you will be able to sing:
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
ML 10/10/1965