MY FATHER was killed in World War I and my mother had her sorrows bringing up seventeen children — sixteen boys and a girl. Many a time we knew what it was to have “the wolf at the door” during the long period before the pension came through.
My mother knew the Saviour. She was not just a church-goer; and oh, how well she managed to bring up her family! At night she would read the Bible and we all had to get on our knees while she prayed. I thought she was a fool but it was her little son who was a fool. At fourteen years I had heard a man say, “there was no heaven and no hell; one generation after another comes and goes, and the world just goes on and on forever.” But this empty thinking gave me no satisfaction.
Later my mother took very ill and I’ll never forget the night she sat up in bed and sang a psalm, then passed happily into the Lord’s presence.
After the burial, the family group gathered to decide what to do with the homestead. What to do with me became a subject of discussion. At sixteen years of age no one wanted to take on such a hard-to-handle character and while they argued I just got up, put on my coat and hat, walked out and that was the last night I was in a house for three and a half years. I wandered here and there, begging, stealing, sleeping in fields and factory yards or wherever I could put up for the night.
Later, with some partners we rented an old house which we used for gambling, drinking and every worthless imagination of our wicked hearts. But one night a bill was put under the door inviting people to special meetings being held in the town. I tore it up and threw it away. Soon afterwards, as I walked along the street in my worn shoes and torn clothes, I recognized a young fellow that went to the gospel services regularly, and just for a joke I said to him, “I’m coming to the meeting.” What a surprise he got! “Well,” said he, “if you’ll come, I’ll call for you, I’ll take you, and I’ll sit beside you.” Then I was surprised! The date was planned. He came, and in my filthy clothes I went with him. (Reader, never frown on a down-and-out; he has a soul just like you have.)
I listened carefully to what the preacher had to say. He spoke about Him that sitteth on the throne, the wrath of the Lamb: “The great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” (Read Revelation 6:15-1715And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? (Revelation 6:15‑17).)
Something happened that night. I became very unhappy. I could not get rid of the thought of “The day of wrath!” I looked at the hills and valleys; everything around seemed to say, “Where did it all come from? There must be a God, and what about the day of wrath if you should have to meet Him this week?” I knew I was not prepared.
Then the thought came; why are you troubled? God loves you. The message was clear. No one was near but I thought about my pals and the drinking. I was at the crossroads. Trembling I looked to Christ and said, “By faith I’ll trust Thee now.” He saved me. I had not joined a church, I had received a Person. Then I enjoyed the assurance and peace my mother had.
In telling of my conversion I only want to glorify a Person, to exalt Christ, His work and His words. Specially to younger folks I would say, don’t be surprised that the way in which Christ met you differs from the way in which He met me. To illustrate what I mean; there was only one door to the ark; the lion had to leave his den down in the jungle, the eagle left his lofty perch on the mountain cliff; they both came by different ways but all entered by the door. And Christ is the door that leads to God.
Reader, have you got this eternal peace in your heart? What will you do in the “day of His wrath?” He loves you and will save you today. Put your trust in HIM.
W. Mullin, an Irish preacher.
ML-09/22/1963