Lee Wong lived many years ago in one of the small villages in central China. He had been brought up to worship idols. But when some missionaries came to his village he heard of the Saviour who could deliver him from his sins. Lee accepted God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as his Saviour, and from that time on he shared this good news with his friends.
A few months after Lee Wong became a Christian, news came that a group of bandits was on its way. The news had barely gone through the village when the bandits appeared. They seemed to be in a hurry and only stopped to seize all the young men they could find. They bound them securely together and led them off as prisoners.
Lee Wong found himself being tied tightly to Chang, one of his friends whom he had often had long talks with about the Lord Jesus.
They reached the town of Hi’shien just before it got dark, and, as there was little resistance from the townspeople, they soon occupied the place. The bandits decided to stay there for the night. They checked the prisoners and tightened the ropes which bound Lee and Chang. The ropes cut into their flesh and they were thrown roughly onto the ground in the dark inner room of a small house.
Later on that night four bandits came into the room. After locking the door they began to play a game. Lee lay in silence watching his captors, and as he watched he was busy thinking. Some weeks before he had been reading a story in the Bible that one of the missionaries had given him. It was about a man named Peter who had been shut up in prison, but who had had a remarkable escape. Now Peter’s God was Lee’s God, and the missionary had said that He was “the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever.” Heb. 13:88Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. (Hebrews 13:8). And so Lee began to pray, “Oh, Lord,” he said, “when Peter was in prison you made the chains fall off. Lord, do it again please.” He also prayed for his friend, asking that he also might be set free and that he might come to know the Saviour.
The soldiers soon tired of their game and began to yawn. One by one they lay down ready for a snooze. Every now and then one of them would sit up and take a look at the prisoners who lay as still as they could.
While he prayed Lee worked his hands gently up and down and soon found, to his delight, that he had worked his ropes loose. Before long one hand was free and he knew it would not be long before he was completely free. Very quietly he stretched out his hand and touched Chang only to find that he also had loosened his ropes, although he was not yet free.
Lee began to pray again. “Oh, Lord, when Peter went out of the prison the soldiers fell asleep. Do it again, Lord; make these four soldiers fall asleep.” Then he lay very still listening. The soldiers were breathing deeply, but every now and then one of them would move, and Lee knew that if it were discovered that they had loosened their ropes, they would be beaten and probably tied back to back. “Oh, Lord,” he prayed earnestly, “please make them snore so I will know that they are sound asleep.”
Then one bandit after another began to snore! Lee and his friend worked hard at their ropes until at last they were both free. They stood trembling on their feet. They had been tied so tightly that it was some moments before they could move, and when they could they held their breath in fear as they turned the heavy key in the lock of the door. It made such a noise that they were sure it would waken the men... but no, they continued to snore loudly.
Very softly the two prisoners crept out, closing the door behind them. They had to cross another room, but it was empty. And when they reached the outer door they found to their relief that it was open! Quietly the two went down the dark street, keeping as much as possible in the deepest shadows. Chang knew the town well, so he guided them out to the farmland, and soon they found themselves back in their own village.
“Your God really answers prayer!” Chang exclaimed as they walked down the deserted village street. “I want to know more about the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Just then they saw a light streaming out into the night from a window down a side street. They turned and walked down to see where the light was, and then Lee saw that it was the room where the missionaries had been meeting the night he had first heard about God’s way of salvation. As they came closer they could hear the sound of voices. The Christians of the village were praying for Lee and Chang to be released! What happiness there was when Lee and Chang walked into the room!
Lee Wong never forgot the wonderful deliverance the Lord Jesus had given him, and from that day on he was known as “Peter.” Chang accepted the Lord Jesus as his Saviour and from then on he, too, spent his time telling others about Jesus.
Just as God delivered Lee and Chang from being prisoners of the bandits, He is able to deliver you from being Satan’s prisoner. Each man, woman, boy and girl is bound by the cords of sin and held by Satan. The Bible describes this: “The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” 2 Cor. 4:44In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4).
As sinners each of us needs to be rescued by One who is stronger than Satan. That One is the Lord Jesus Christ. “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” Rom. 5:66For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6).
Have you admitted to God that you are a sinner and that it is only His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who can save you? Have you said, “Lord Jesus, save me,” realizing that you cannot save yourself? The Lord Jesus is ready and able to save all who ask Him to be their Saviour. He died on the cross for your sins if you believe Him and accept Him as your Saviour. Turn to the Saviour right now and believe His promise “That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:1515That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:15).
ML-05/19/1985