Edward was a young African student. He heard the gospel preached one day and then wrote asking the missionary for some tracts. He read the tracts and then asked for a Bible. God says of those who read His Word, “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear... and keep those things which are written therein.” Rev. 1:33Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. (Revelation 1:3). Edward believed that Jesus is the Son of God and trusted Him as his Saviour.
However, Edward had a problem his parents still practiced “juju” or witchcraft, and they told him that if he continued to be a follower of Jesus, they would cut off his tuition from school, turn him out of their home and disown him.
Now Scripture says: “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee.” Psa. 55:2222Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. (Psalm 55:22). Edward proved faithful; he refused to give up his Saviour, so his parents disowned him.
Nevertheless, the Lord was working in that home. His parents’ hut caught fire and burned down. While digging amid the smoking ruins, they came upon some tracts Edward had hidden there. They read the tracts, their hearts were melted, and soon they sent a message to Edward to return home.
Edward came home carrying his Bible, and his parents listened while he read to them from the precious Book. He showed them how the Lord takes care of His own, just as He took care of the tracts in the fire. He read to them the story of Elijah, and then turned to John’s Gospel. The wonderful story of the Saviour’s death on the cross and of His resurrection had a profound effect on their hearts.
In time the parents became true believers in the Lord Jesus and gave up witchcraft. They told their witch doctor all that had happened, that they were now saved and on their way to heaven. He asked for the tracts, and he too read them. It wasn’t long before the witch doctor himself came to Christ and was wonderfully saved too.
ML-03/06/1977