AS you surely know, China is not a Christian country.
But very few of the millions of inhabitants know the true God. They worship idols and are full of fear and superstition. Such is the condition of the country in which little Wong was born.
There are missionaries in that great country who bring there the Gospel message and tell of the love of Jesus. As little Wong had gone to a school that was managed by these missionaries, he learned to believe in Jesus and to love Him. He learned well at school, and his little heart was drawn more and more to the Savior, Who loves the little yellow children, just as well as the white ones. At school he learned to sing songs about salvation, and thenceforth one could hear him singing wherever he went, of God and His love.
On a certain day Wong and another converted boy walked along the street singing with all their hearts. Their song attracted the attention of an old cobbler, who came out of his workshop and stood at the door listening.
When another time they were passing, he called the boys in and requested them to sing for him; and slowly he began to believe in the truth, which was the theme of their songs. The result of the change in the old cobbler was, that he longed for others to know about the Lord Jesus and His salvation.
With this intention he invited one evening some of his neighbors to come to his house to hear the boys sing. Many accepted and the interest aroused was so great, that they came again and again for the same purpose. After some time someone was sent to that part of the city to tell the people more of the Savior and His salvation; and from the efforts of the two little boys, resulted in this way a glorious work of salvation.
Some time later little Wong was in a small boat at a dangerous spot in a swiftly flowing river. Not far from this place there was a stone idol. Four men who were in the same boat, began speaking of the help that this idol was to people in shipwrecks.
“Yes,” said one of them to little Wong; “if anyone is in danger on the river, he has only to look at the image and he will not be drowned.”
Wong knew very well, that if he contradicted the men, they would be very angry; but he could not let the opportunity pass for witnessing to the truth in which he himself believed. For this reason he said bravely: “That stone image can’t help anyone. Only the Lord can save people.”
This speech roused up a real storm of bitterness amongst the men. They all began to contradict him loudly, trying to convince him that they were right and he was wrong.
But of course that was in vain. At last they were so angry, that they decided to force Wong to kneel down before the image.
Wong declared that he could not do it, because his Bible taught him that one should worship God alone.
Then they seized him by his long braid of hair, and knocked his head against the sides of the boat until the blood burst forth from different wounds. But he did not yield.
“You can torture me, and tie up my body;” said he; “but in my soul I will be all right and unbound.”
Was that not a good and brave speech from this Chinese boy?
Then those wicked men cried out; “If you don’t worship our God, we’ll drown you.”
“I will not worship him,” said Wong. “Every time that you call on the name of your god, I will call on the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Then they let him fall in the water; he sank while they rowed to land and left him to drown, but a few of his friends had seen the occurrence from a distance. They watched for the moment of his rising to the surface and succeeding in seizing him, they drew him to dry ground. The unconscious boy was laid on the shore, and his friends did all in their power to restore him. At last he opened his eyes, but he did not know where he was, or who was beside him. He thought that he was still in the power of the bad men, and whispered softly “You say, idol; but I say, Lord Jesus.”
How glad he was, when he began to understand that he was with friends, who also knew the Savior and loved Him.
This is all that we know of Wong. He did not die, but recovered, and remained faithful to his Savior.
The future still lies before him; who knows but he may have a large share in bringing the gospel to his countrymen! May the Lord bless the brave, little Wong!
ML-03/14/1920