A dear old missionary at home on furlough had brought with him a young African prince who had become a true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The missionary was asked to speak to a group of young school girls and had asked the young prince to go with him and say a few words also.
“What can I say to young ladies who know God,” said the young prince in surprise— “I who have only known Him such a little while?”
The answer of the missionary surprised him still more.
“You say they know God, but that is a mistake. Of course they have heard of Him ever since they were born, but some of them do not yet know Him. Their hearts have never yet been touched by His love.”
Arriving at the school, the missionary gave a little address and showed some of the idols and curiosities which he had collected in Yoruba, West Africa. Then at the close he asked his African friend to speak, and the prince began: “Dear young ladies, I cannot say much to you, for I find your language is a very hard one. I thought you all knew more than I do, for I have been brought up in a heathen country, and worshipped idols such as you have been looking at, and I have only known your God a little while.
“But my friend tells me that perhaps some of you do not know Him yet, and this seemed so strange to me that I could hardly believe it. Is it really true? Our gods are so wicked, and hard and cruel, we could not love them. But when your missionary came and told us about your God, how loving He is, and how He gave His only dear Son to die such a cruel death to save us, and wash away our black sins, then my heart believed in Him and I loved Him.
“Can you hear about such great love and not love Him back? My eyes feel as if they could weep for you. But you will soon get to know Him, won’t you?
“I must tell you that my father is a king, and I might be one next to him; but I do not want to be. I want instead to go and tell my people about this loving God and His Son Jesus, and my brother may be king. I pray that you will soon all know God.”
Are any of us like this young African prince, whose heart had been touched by the love of God so that He loved Him in return? Or like some of those girls, well-educated as to the things of this world, but ignorant of the love of God.
One of those girls never forgot what the young prince said. She was struck with her own selfishness and sin, and found no rest till she knew and believed the love of God in Christ Jesus, the Saviour of sinners.
ML-12/10/1978