Years went by, and the people seemed just as opposed as ever. Even the Christians got discouraged and cold-hearted, and after a time they stopped having any meetings. One of them, however, was a young relative of “Peace and Glory,” and the older man often amused himself by ridiculing the faith and hope of this young believer in the true God.
Shiu Poang, as the young man was named, longed that his old relative might be delivered from the power of Satan, and become a follower of the Prince of Peace, and on every occasion he would press upon him his need of the Saviour he had so long despised. No matter how much fun the old man made of his words, he would repeat the story of the cross, and assure him that it was only through the Saviour’s blood that he could ever have his many sins forgiven.
One day “Peace and Glory” agreed to read a gospel that Shiu Poang gave to him. He thought that by reading it he would more easily be able to show the young man the foolishness of leaving the religion of his father and mother and all his relatives, to put his trust in this new Faith.
He began to read the Gospel of Luke, but found that although the words were so simple, they seemed to convey a depth of meaning that he could not understand. He often had to ask the meaning of the things that he read.
One day he read the fifteenth chapter, and as he pictured to himself the hopelessness and helplessness of the poor prodigal son, Shiu Poang explained that the father’s loving forgiveness was a picture of the grace and love of God. “Peace and Glory” suddenly realized that he was the prodigal son, and that all his life he had been sinning against that love. Truly he was in a land far distant from God, and it was a land of famine where there was nothing to satisfy his heart.
As the wonderful story sank into his heart, he realized also that the Father’s arms were open to receive him, and to welcome him Home. There and then “Peace and Glory” decided that he would forsake his sinful ways, and turn to the God who had so loved him as to give His Son to die for his sins. Believing on that Saviour, he had peace in his heart for the first time, and soon he found that he could also “rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
How happy Shiu Poang was when he saw how God had answered his prayers after so many years! How encouraged, too, the other Christians were when they saw that God had done more than they had asked or thought in bringing to repentance the man who had been the ringleader in their troubles.
When “Peace and Glory” knew his sins had all been washed away in the Saviour’s blood, his first thought was to tefloll who knew him that he was now serving under a new Leader.
“I did not choose Him,” he said, “but He chose me and saved me.”
No more did he want to lie for hours smoking opium. Now he wanted to use his spare time to learn more about his Saviour, that he might know better how to obey his Captain’s commands.
His opium house he turned into a Meeting Room with gospel posters and hymns stuck along the wall. There were Bibles and tracts on the table for any who came to read. Is one corner was his bed, and day and night he was glad to read the Scriptures to any who would come to listen, and he urged them to trust in the Saviour who had made such a difference in his own life.
Several months later “Peace and Glory” was baptized, and openly and definitely showed himself on the new ground of trusting to the death and resurrection of Christ for his forgivess and justification. Among those with him when he was baptized were Shiu Poang, and the preacher who six years before had spoken of the power of God to win others to Him.
As you read of “Peace and Glory” and how he was brought to walk in the way of peace, just stop and ask yourself whether you have also found that path, and can rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. If not, you are still in the diant country, a prodigal from the Fher’s home.
One of “Peace and Glory’s” first acts was to go off to the district in which he had been a robber, that he might tell the people of the villages of the change that had come into his life, and of the Saviour who was able and willing to save all who would come to Him.
If you know that Saviour’s love and power yourself, will you not pray for this old man in China, that God may keep him safe from harm, and use him to bring many more to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ?
ML 04/15/1956