BENDIGO, in his earlier days, had been a prize fighter. He was of massive frame and when at his best scarcely a man could stand up against him.
But when his prize fighting days were over, with little or no education, he found it hard to make a living. He gave himself over to drink and thieving, and all the evils that go with the downgrade.
When a child Bendigo had been left to run wild; he went barefoot till he was in his teens. He had never been in a Sunday school and no one had ever taught him about the Saviour. For many years he had run the sinful race and now he was getting old.
The morning he was released from prison some of his old companions were waiting for him, and coaxed him to come along with them. But a Christian man interposed, saying, “No, don’t go, Bendigo, come along with me. I want you to hear ‘Undaunted Dick’ Weaver, the converted prize-fighter, preach the gospel tonight.”
Bendigo’s curiosity was aroused.
The news that another prize-fighter like himself had been converted and was holding meetings in town interested him. He would go and hear him.
That night a large crowd had assembled at the gospel hall, and many were unable to get in. Then a voice cried out, “Here comes old Bendigo: make way for him.” Seng the well-known old prizefighter approach, the crowd made way and he was led right up the front. There he sat on the platform alongside of the speaker.
Mr. Weaver’s theme that night was “God’s love even to the chief of sinners.” The Spirit of God was at work, and when he had done speaking old Bendigo dropped to his knees and cried, “Oh God, if Thou canst save a man like ‘Undaunted Dick,’ Thou canst save me.”
The crowd shouted, “God bless old Bendigo.” Some were weeping, some laughing for joy. That night Mr. Weaver took Bendigo home with him. He took a bath and they rigged him out with a complete change of clothes including a new suit. Poor Mrs. Weaver said: “Richard, you have brought many a rough character here, but this one seems to be the masterpiece. I’m afraid of him.”
“The Lord has turned the lion into a lamb,” returned Dick.
The next evening Mr. and Mrs. Weaver and a friend were in the study and Bendigo was in the living room with the young children. Looking out they saw the children kneeling before the fire saying their bedtime prayers, and Bendigo was kneeling with them. Young Reggie was leading the others. They heard him say, “Lord, bless Daddy and Mommie.”
To their astonishment Bendigo also repeated, “Lord, bless Daddy and Mommie.”
Reggie then prayed for his friends, one by one and Bendigo repeated their petitions.
Then came, “Lord, bless Bendigo.”
“Lord, bless Bendigo,” prayed poor Bendigo.
“They say Bendigo is a bad man, Lord,” said the boy.
“They say Bendigo is a bad man, Lord, and it’s true,” repeated the poor man.
“But Thou canst save Bendigo,” said the boy.
“But Thou canst save Bendigo,” repeated the man.
“Thy blood was shed for Bendigo,” said the boy.
“Thy blood was shed for Bendigo,” repeated the man.
“Lord, save Bendigo tonight,” said the boy concluding his little prayer.
“Lord, save Bendigo tonight,” said the man in tones of unmistakable earnestness.
Mrs. Weaver wept and their friend said, “Praise the Lord!” Then they watched as the children rose from their knees, and Bendigo tang the youngest boy in his arms carried him around the room, sighing, “Oh that I had been taught to pray when a child, and to love God when a child. How different would my life have been!”
Later he turned to Mrs. Weaver and said, “God bless you, lady. Oh that I had been brought up as these children are being brought up. What a life I have lived! But I am in heaven now.”
And the repentant prize-fighter knelt once more before the fire and sobbed like a child. The heart of a little child was given to him and he arose from his knees born of God.
From then on it was his delight to hear the Word of God read. He kept Reggie busy reading the Scriptures to him. He traveled with Mr. Weaver and at gospel meetings he sat up on the platform with him. Some hard hearts that Dick’s words could not reach fell before the testimony of old Bendigo. To see him “clothed and in his right mind” to them was nothing short of a miracle of saving grace. Conviction laid hold on them and they fled for refuge to Bendigo’s Saviour.
The Lord took away completely Bendigo’s thirst for drink. Then one day he had a fall from which he never recovered. When the news spread that Bendigo was dying, rich and poor, Christians and world lings — for he was esteemed by all went to see him. Among them was Harry, a former prize-fighter friend of his, and he led him to Christ before he died.
As the end neared he did his best to sing,
For you must be a lover of the Lord
Or you won’t go to heaven when you die.
Those were his last words. Soon after he departed to be with Christ.
His friends erected a tombstone over his grave on which the words were engraved.
A LION AT REST
ML-09/15/1974