Opposite a gospel hall in China was a large camp with several thousand soldiers. Several times the Christians tried to get an entrance among the soldiers, but all their efforts were in vain.
One day a bookcase was being gleaned out at the gospel hall and some dirty and torn books were put in a heap to be burned. An old torn Chinese Bible was put in the heap by mistake. A playful dog got hold of the book and while some children were chasing him, he ran away with a few torn leaves in his mouth.
Next Lord’s day a high officer, accompanied by two soldiers, came into the gospel hall and listened attentively to the preaching. Afterward when he was spoken to, he drew some torn leaves out of his pocket and said: “A few days ago a dog came into the camp, and when the soldiers were chasing him, he dropped these leaves. The story is very interesting; it tells about a chief and the life in his camp. Where can I get the whole story, for my men would like to read it all.” It was part of the book of Joshua in which the soldiers had become interested. A whole Bible was given to the officer and he was invited to come again and bring others too. After that the Christian preachers were asked to come into the camp as often as they wished, and they had full liberty to preach to the soldiers. Through this work eighty-two men accepted the Lord Jesus as their Saviour and were baptized.
Some years after, one of the preachers from the gospel hall went to Manchuria. There he met a nice gentleman in a long Chinese gown, who greeted him very heartily. “Do you not know me?” he asked. “I am one of the eighty-two men who found the Saviour through the dog with the torn Bible. I have left the army and am preaching the gospel in this big city.”
How wonderful are the ways of God! He brought the Bible to these soldiers through a dog, for He can use whomsoever He will. If you have received this little paper today, it is because God has sent it to you that you might be saved. The Lord Jesus Christ died on Calvary’s cross to save your precious soul. Have you put your trust in Him as your Saviour? He calls you today. Tomorrow may be too late.
ML 01/22/1956