Nathan was a young Jew living in Israel. He had always believed in God, but he was never happy—always searching for something. He was Orthodox, and earnestly believed in God, but his soul was not satisfied through his belief in Him.
One day, he went to Mt. Carmel and picked up a loose page of the New Testament, but he was not deeply impressed. Now, however, the Spirit of God solemnly impressed upon the young man’s soul that the words on that stray leaf were from the Holy Scriptures. He felt he was reading the words of the Lord Jesus Himself as He spoke of His deity. The light of God shone into Nathan’s darkened soul, and his understanding was opened immediately. He saw that Jesus is both Lord and Christ, the Messiah. In a moment, there flooded into his soul all that he had longed for during the past years. He believed in Him with all his heart and rejoiced in his new-found Saviour.
A Hebrew Christian missionary spoke to Nathan a year and a half later and rejoiced to hear him tell the story of his conversion. That same day, Nathan had been witnessing to another Jew who, like himself, had been hungering and thirsting for peace in his soul. He, too, believed in God, and with rapt attention, he listened while Nathan testified of his faith in Christ and joy in his salvation.
Nathan had also witnessed to his parents, but it cost him his home, for apparently they would not receive it. He experienced what it was to suffer for Christ, to be cast out for His sake. Still, “he went on his way rejoicing,” Acts 8:3939And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. (Acts 8:39); as it is written of Moses of old, “Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.” Hebrews 11:2626Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. (Hebrews 11:26).
The Lord Jesus has promised: “There is no-man that bath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My sake, and the gospel’s, but he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time...; and in the world to come eternal life.” Mark 10:29,3029And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, 30But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. (Mark 10:29‑30).
ML 12/08/1968