On the island of Fernando, oft the west coast of Africa, lived a poor colored man. He led a reckless, wild life, but, one day, without any preaching, he felt the burden of his sins and had a longing desire for forgiveness. He went to the heathen priest, but he could not help him, and so the poor colored man became very sad. One day an English ship came to the island to get fresh water. A sailor boy found the poor colored man sitting on a tree trunk weeping, and said to him, “Hello, what is the matter?” The poor man answered, “I cannot find forgivness of my sins.” The sailor told him that if he would go to England he would hear about the God of the Christians who has paid the debt.
When the next ship landed, the colored man begged to be taken to England. After his arrival he walked through the streets, asking the passerby where he could find the God who has paid the debt. Nobody could tell him, some even laughed at him. One day he was leaning against a fence, tired and distressed, when somebody asked him,
“Dear friend, are you in great trouble?”
“Yes,” he said. “My misery is great.”
“Here is something which will satisfy your hunger today,” said the gentleman, giving him some money.
“O massa, it is not that. I have come to England from my island to find the God of the Christians who has paid the debt, and I cannot find Him.” The gentleman listened with interest to the whole sad story, and then showed him a gospel hall and told him to come there in the evening.
The poor colored man could hardly wait for the evening to come, but when the time came he was there, listening eagerly to the words of the preacher who spoke about “the Lamb of God taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:2929The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29). The preacher was the gentleman who had invited him. He took care of him and instructed him in the way of salvation. The once sad colored man became a very happy and eager pupil, and soon he trusted in the Lord Jesus as his own Saviour. After he was baptized he went back to his native island and told his own people, with a burning heart, about the Lord Jesus who has paid the great debt of sin for all who believe in Him, “(Jesus) ... Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree.” 1 Peter 2:2424Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24).
ML 03/08/1953