Kumar was a Buddhist, but his religion had not given him the peace of mind that he sought. He had become anxious about his soul, and in his fashion, he tried to accumulate merit by going on a tiresome journey to a sacred mountain. How true is that word, “If the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? How much rather then, when he saith to thee, wash, and be clean?” 2 Kings 5:1313And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? (2 Kings 5:13).
Kumar’s religion told him that if he performed this pilgrimage three times, he would be free from sin. The joeys took him eleven years; but when all was done, he felt sin was not gone; the load remained. He did not know that no journeys were needful.
No ascending to any mountain was required. The mount where Jesus died for sin was the only mountain the new Christian religion told him of. He asked to know more, and was told Christ took our place under the law of DO: He did all that wanted doing; now all was DONE. More than this, He took our place under the curse deserved for what we had not DONE, and bore it all.
But instead of being glad, Kumar’s proud heart rebelled, and he said, “I will do anything to save myself; but I cannot receive this new teaching.”
He brought his books and argued with the missionary; but he had to own that the Book of books had the best of the argument. Did it not say -
At last the holy Spirit of God opened Kumar’s eyes to see that he could do nothing and that nothing was to be done, but to obey the Word, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31). The only work was faith. “Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.” John 6:2929Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. (John 6:29).
Kumar believed, and he was saved, and immediately he brought others to the mission. For this he lost his trade, and was so persecuted that he had to start in a new line of work and preach Christ in his spare time.
In the village where he and his son lived, there were several fires. The priests said the fire gods were angry, and must be appeased by processions and gifts. The young convert would have nothing to do with this. The pressions were, however, conducted, and for several nights they marched through the place chanting. Unhappily for the priests, a fresh fire broke out in the middle of the ceremony, and so powerless were the priests, that the flames spread with terrible rapidity; and, as if to prove that the Christian was the cause of the calamity, the fire came straight in the direction of his home, only a thatched wooden building.
Kumar was advised to bring out his belongings, but knowing they would be stolen, he refused saying, “We will pray and trust in our God.”
He did so; but on spread the fire, devouring all before it.
“We trust Thee, O Lord: do Thou let this people see that Thou art the true God.” So he prayed.
The next house caught fire and was burning.
“Now will you bring out your belongings?” they asked.
“No! God will deliver us.”
At the last moment the wind changed and the direction of the flames was altered. The people were amazed as the fire burned around three sides of Kumar’s little house, leaving it safe in the midst of destruction.
That night 176 families were burned out, and in the morning as they gathered among the ruins, the Lord’s dear child preached to them.
“Now you see your gods can do nothing for you,” said Kumar; “our God has saved us from the fire.”
ML-05/01/1977