A WEALTHY Virginia planter was lying very ill in the city of Richmond. He had a dangerous and infectious fever, and his physician thought that he was dying.
He had no knowledge of the Bible, having lived without any thought of God or the need of his soul. When the doctor told him that he had not long to live, he swore about it. "It's too bad," said he, "so young as I am, with so much to live for, to think of dying now! But it's always been so. Everything is against me." At length the nurse was afraid of catching the fever, and she left him. Then the doctor asked him if he might get a Chinese lad to wait on him.
"Oh, it makes no difference," said the sick man; "you may as well let me die like a dog. It will soon be over, anyhow."
In another part of the city there was a large Chinese laundry, and one of the boys who worked there was named Ching. Ching was a native of China, but he had learned to read and love the Bible, and had become a Christian. The love of Jesus in his heart, and the hope of going to heaven when his time
came to leave this world, had made him very happy. Now the great desire of his heart was to get an education, and then go back to China and tell his countrymen about Jesus and His great salvation. But he was poor and he saw no way yet of getting an education.
The doctor knew Ching, and stopping at the laundry one day, he asked him if he would be willing to wait on a patient of his who was sick with a dangerous fever. "He is a rich man, and will pay you well," he said. Ching expressed his willingness to go, for he felt sure that God would take care of him. Then the doctor took him and introduced him to his patient.
A few days later, the sick man lay dozing on his bed, while Ching was sitting in the corner opposite to him reading his Bible. Presently the sick man opened his eyes, and seeing what Ching was reading, he demanded, "What confounded book is that you are always reading?"
This hurt Ching's gentle spirit; but he meekly replied, "This no confound book; this my Jesus' book; this my passport."
"Ha! your passport — what do you mean by that?"
In reply Ching merely read these two short verses:
" 'There is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved,' but the name of Jesus.
" 'The blood of Jesus Christ . . . cleanseth us from all sin.' "
"Did you say 'all sin,' Ching? Read that again. Would it cleanse my sin?"
Ching read it again, and then added, "Yes, sir, it will cleanse your sin, and satisfy all your hopes and longings."
And then, at the sick man's request, Ching knelt down by the planter's bedside, and prayed that God would pardon his sins, give him a new heart, and make him a happy Christian.
This was repeated day by day for some time; and then a great change came over the sick man. He learned that God in His great love had sent His Son into this world to die upon the cross for sinners, and that though he was a great sinner, the Lord Jesus was a greater Saviour. He received into his heart this glorious truth, and resting his weary soul upon the finished work of Christ, he found pardon and peace in believing.
But a great change came over the planter's sick body as well, for his fever broke, and in the mercy of God he got quite well again. He became known as a devoted Christian, using his energies and means to spread the gospel of Christ in the South.
As for Ching, when the planter learned that he was anxious to get an education so that he could go back to China and preach the gospel to his countrymen, he gave him enough money to put him through school. And so Ching became an honored missionary to his own people, and amid many perils and persecutions he labored faithfully to make Christ known in that far off land.
Dear young reader, have you experienced the power of the love of Christ in your own heart? What He did for poor Ching, and for the rich but godless planter, He will do for you, if you will only receive Him by faith into your heart.
Messages of the Love of God 10/19/1958