A remarkable story is told of Dr. Chamberlain, the American missionary, who labored in India for fifty years, a story which marvelously illustrates the power of the Gospel of Christ.
He and some native helpers entered a walled city in the Nizam’s kingdom of Hyderabad. The Brahmins and Mohammedans on discovering the nature of his mission, ordered him to leave the city, else they would stone him. Dr. Chamberlain faced the crowd, and spoke as follows:
“Brothers, it is not to revile your gods that I have come this long way. I have come to tell you a story sweeter than mortal ear ever heard before. But it is evident that this multitude does not care to hear it. I see five men before me who I perceive (from their sympathetic faces) wish to hear my story. Will you all, please, step back a little and allow those five to hear? When I have finished you may come forward and throw your stones.”
Then in a quiet tone he thus addressed the Brahmins:
“What is it that you chant as you go to the river for your daily baths? Is it not this?” and the missionary chanted some strains from their vedas, the substance of which was: “I am a sinner; my actions are sinful. My soul is sinful. All that pertains to me is polluted with sin. Do Thou, O God, that hast mercy on us take away my sin.”
Continuing, Dr. Chamberlain said: “Do you know how God can do what you ask? How He can take away the burden of sin and give you relief?
Brothers, is it possible for us to expiate our own sins? Can we by painful journeys to all the holy places change those sinful natures that you bemoan I have learned the secret, I will tell it to you.”
“Then,” said the missionary, “I told the story of stories, recounted the love of God the Father, the birth of Jesus in the manger of Bethlehem, His wonderful life here below, His blessed words, His marvelous deeds of healing and mercy, and the mob became an audience. I told them of the Saviour’s rejection by those He had come to save, and pictured the scene of Calvary in the graphic words He gave me that day, when for us and for our saation He was left to cry,
“My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”
I told them of the laying of His body in the tomb, of His bursting the bars of death, and coming forth triumphant over the last enemy, and all that we had to do was to acknowledge our sins and lift up prayer to Him, I saw tears coursing and dropping on the pavement from which they had torn up the stones to stone us.”
“Now,” said I, folding my hands, standing before them, “I have finished my story; you can stone me. I will make no resistance.”
“No, no,” said the people, “we do not want to stone you now. We did not know whose messenger you were, nor what you had come to tell us. Do these books that you have tell us more of this wonderful Redeemer?”
“Yes.”
The result was the people bought all the books and tracts they had, and appointed some of their leaders to escort them safely to their tents, and asking that they might he pardoned for the way they had treated them.
What amazing power there is in the proclamation of the “old, old story.” No wonder the apostle Paul said,
When proclaimed in the energy and power of the holy Spirit, what mighty deliverances from the thraldom and slavery of sin are effected!
Multitudes who profess that they believe in Christ’s atoning sacrifice, have not the least idea what that death has effected. Many who believe that Christ’s death as an atonement for sin was an absolute necessity don’t know that what He did, is enough. “The Gospel” is good news regarding a work done for us by the Lord Jesus Christ, by believing which, forgiveness and eternal life are ours.
May the reader not be satisfied until he has the assurance of salvation through faith in Christ “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other Name (the Lord Jesus Christ) under heaven among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:1212Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12).
ML 06/11/1944