An aged Indian Christian was once asked how the Gospel, the glad tidings of salvation, had first reached him and his people.
“Ah,” he said, “it is many moons ago that first the wondrous news reached us. From across the sea came one who loved the blessed Lord, and longed for others to know His love, too. After a weary journey, he reached our tribe. We were wild, fierce warriors then, more used to the war-path than anything else, and for a stranger to come among us, was to endanger his life indeed. Well, he came and told us of the living God Who had made heaven and earth, Who loved poor Indians such as we, and had sent from heaven His beloved and only Son to die for us. He told us how hateful to God was our sin, but that, because His Son had suffered the punishment — death—we might have forgiveness full and free, and everlasting life. He told us “Whosoever will, may come” and welcomed be.
“When his story was told the messenger said he was weary and would fain rest himself awhile. To our surprise, he just laid himself down among us—right beside our very spears and arrows, and slept as sweetly as a babe upon its mother’s breast. We looked at one another in amazement, then our chief spoke up and said,
“What this man says is true, else would he sleep thus in peace? He knows he has a Friend in God, Who will care for and protect him even though savages surround him.”
“The next morning we begged the white man to stay among us, and tell us more of this wondrous loving God, and His beloved Son.
“Thus it was we heard and believed the Gospel.”
Dear children, do you know this precious Saviour as your very own? What a Friend He is! He is the “Friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” If you have not received Him as your Saviour, the One Who died for your sins, will you not do so now?
ML 05/21/1944