A COUPLE visiting in a home noticed that a printed text from the Bible was hanging in several rooms. The text was this: “Whither shall I go from Thy Spit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, Thou art there:... If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me.” Psalm 139:7-107Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. (Psalm 139:7‑10).
The couple saw the same text in several places of the house and they asked their host why this was.
“There is a long story about those verses,” he said. “It starts before I was born. My parents were Christians and before my birth they prayed that I might live pleasing to God. But as I grew up I hated anything to do with religion.
“My feelings were so strong that I deliberately tried to break my pants’ hearts. I vowed that I would someday travel so far from home that I would never hear of religion again. When I was nineteen years old I carried out my threat.
“As I left it was with some remarks that must surely have deeply wound my father and mother. I did not even bid them farewell.
“I joined the crew of a cargo ship bound for India. Away from the restraints of my parents, my life became blacker. I never heard the name of Jesus except when someone cursed.
“From India we sailed to South Africa. In port there I met two men who were planning a hunting trip into the jungles of Rhodesia, looking for elephant tusks. Hearing their conversation and plans fired me with a desire to go along with them. Despite my lack of experience they accepted me for the safari, or hunting trip.
“At first all went well, but after several months in the jungle the original number had been greatly reduced. Disease had afflicted some of the men, lions killed others and seral had deserted. Finally, the two men who led the expedition both died and with that the remaining porters left. I alone was left, and in a strange land, friendless, really helpless. Now longing for the comfort my parents had in God.
“Not knowing what to do, I wandered toward the south, to make my way back to the port where I had first landed. Suddenly I was surrounded by ten African natives, armed with spears. I had a gun but it was useless for me to fight, and one of the natives quickly disarmed me.
“Their language was strange to me but I understood what they seemed to be saying. I had heard that this was a fierce tribe and that they practiced cannibalism. When they took me to their village and put me in a straw hut I was sure they would keep me until a day when the whole tribe would gather for a feast. Then they would eat me!
“For two days I saw no one. Alone as I was, I thought to pray to God but stubbornly refused. I realized that I had bungled my life and now I would not ask God to straighten it out.
“Then some of the natives came to get me and as I walked by the huts I felt all were watching me and thinking of the feast they would soon enjoy.
“I was taken to the chief’s hut, there to be examined by him. For many minutes I stood in silence. At last, to my amazement, the chief spoke words that I well understood, “‘Do you know Jesus?’
“Never in all my life had I heard words so sweet as these, words which all but overwhelmed me. Indeed I did know about Jesus. Though I had thought to get away from God, there in the African jungle He had found me. My heart was so touched that I knelt down right there and cried to God for forgiveness. And He did forgive me and save me.
“Now you can see why I have that text on my walls. I tried to get away from God but in His great love for me, He never let me go.
“You probably wonder about that African tribe. David Livingstone had spent a whole year with them and told them the story of salvation from sin by simply trusting in Jesus. They were cannibals no longer. Now they were gospel preachers!
“I stayed with them for six months, working with them and trying to improve their living conditions. Now, too, I recalled much that my parents had taught me about the Bible and I was able to help the natives in that way.
“then I could wait no longer to return to my parents. In all the time I was away from them I had never written one letter. What joy there was when they met me at the door and I told them that I was saved.”
What marvelous grace God showed to that man, never ceasing to love him, and following him wherever he went. And that same grace waits for you to bow your heart before Him, waits to hear you say that you need a Saviour. Won’t you come to Jesus now?
But, dear reader, we may not all get the opportunity to accept the Lord Jesus as Saviour, after rejecting Him for so long as this man did. “Flee from the wrath to come.” “Behold, now is the accepted time; bold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2).
ML-04/12/1964