When I was a boy at school, I remember reading a story about a Brahman, but I have never seen one, for they live in far away India. They are very religious people, but they know nothing at all about the Lord Jesus, and of His precious blood that cleanses from all sin.
There is a mighty river in India called the Ganges, and these religious people like to bathe in that river to purify themselves from sin, and to dedicate themselves anew to their idols. Many true Christians from our lands have gone to India to tell them of the true and only Saviour, the Lord Jesus, and to tell them of the folly of washing in sacred rivers, and worshiping idols.
A young Brahman had tried in vain to find peace and comfort for his weary heart in doing all that his religion demanded of him. He carefully bathed in the Ganges, and faithfully worshiped idols but still his heart was troubled and burdened. One day he heard a man preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, and he became so much interested that he bought a Testament in the Telugu language, and began to read. The Spirit of God convinced him of his sinfulness, and showed him the way of salvation through faith in Christ alone. When he openly confessed Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour, he was cast out and disowned by all his relatives and friends. But he still rejoiced in his Saviour.
Some time later he came to visit in a land like ours — a land that is called Christian, and where everyone has heard of the Lord Jesus Christ, and nearly every home has a Bible. He thought it was going to be just fine to meet happy Christians everywhere, but he was amazed. He found that they were not much more enlightened than those idolaters in India. Some were trusting in their baptism to take them to heaven, some to the work of their own hands, and others were even denying the truth of the very Bible that God had used to save his soul.
On one occasion he found himself in a company of people who were pressing Christians, but who did not seem to love his Saviour at all. He lifted up his voice and fearlessly told them all:
“I want to tell you that I was once a Brahman and an idolater, I trusted in my religion and all that I could do to give me peace and forgiveness, but I have been cleansed and saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. Nothing else can bring peace and forgiveness to your heart but that precious blood.”
Wasn’t that a fine testimony from a young Christian! What is your trust?
ML 08/09/1953