RALPH WAS a young Jewish boy, reared in the traditional religion of his forefathers. He went to a Hebrew school, but what he learned did not include the Bible, and he grew up without any knowledge of God’s plan of salvation. At a very early age he began to indulge in all manner of crime and sin.
Ralph’s practice of religion consisted of going to the synagogue on holy days and celebrating the Passover once a year. He would often defy every rule of observing the holy days and defy God to punish him. But he is thankful the Lord was patient with him, for by the time he was 16 years old he was living a very wicked life.
Soon Ralph entered the army, and while at basic training camp he met a young Gentile lad who became interested in him. His purity of life gave Ralph an opportunity to scoff and mock, but he simply smiled and told him politely that he did not understand.
Their friendship grew, and Ralph wondered how the young Christian could refrain from the habits and drinking that were so much a part of his own life. His admiration and respect for the young man increased more and more.
One day Ralph decided he was going to fight one of the other soldiers, and told his Christian friend about it. He pleaded with Ralph to change his mind, but he refused. At that moment he handed Ralph a little book and asked him to promise to read it. It was a copy of the New Testament. He thanked his friend, put the book into his pocket and returned to his barracks, purposing in his heart to start a fight at the first opportunity. But he had promised to read the book, and he did.
When Ralph read the words, “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the son of Abram” he was completely taken aback. What did Jesus Christ have to do with David and Abraham, he wondered. His interest was kindled and he read on. The spark of interest became a mighty flame as the truth concerning the Lord Jesus was branded upon his heart and mind.
Imagine Ralph’s shame as he considered how he had misused that lovely Name for so many years, in scathing blasphemy on the name of Christ. He realized that he had been entirely wrong all his life, and told the Lord what a sinner he had been. How happy he was when he received the Lord Jesus into his heart as his own Saviour, and now, on the street-corners of a large city, he loves to preach of the Saviour he has found. Has my reader found Him too?
ML-05/19/1963