AFRICANER was one of the chiefs of Namaqualand in South Africa. For hundreds of miles around his kraal, his name brought fear into hearts, and even mission stations did not escape the bloodshed and destruction for which he was known. Yet there was love in the heart of God for Africaner.
A missionary named John Campbell wrote a letter to Africaner asking him to allow some of the missionaries to return to the places from which they had been driven. Africaner consented, and soon another missionary, Robert Moffat, began the trip to the kraal of the chief himself. On the way, many of the Africans warned him of the things which might happen to him, and upon his arrival at his destination, he found himself in a hard situation. Nevertheless, he began to preach the Word of God, and to his joy, the chief himself came to hear.
Before long, Africaner was truly “born again,” and his New Testament became his constant companion. He loved to speak of Jesus and began to travel around with Mr. Moffat. On one trip, he came face to face with another chief named Berend. For years, the two chiefs had been deadly enemies. Now, they clasped hands, sang praises, and knelt together in prayer—because Berend had likewise trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour. No wonder the missionary wept for joy when he saw these two former enemies united as brethren in Christ.
On another trip, soon after his conversion, Africaner went with Mr. Moffat to the coast. Looking for a place to spend the night there, they went up to a Dutch farmhouse and Mr. Moffat introduced himself. The farmer stared at him in unbelief, and stated, “Moffat was murdered by that monster Africaner months ago.”
Mr. Moffat assured the farmer that he was indeed alive and added that Africaner was a converted man.
“Oh, I cannot believe that,” exclaimed the farmer. “There are seven wonders in the world already, and that would make the eighth! If what you say is true, I should like to see the change in the man. He killed my uncle, but I should like to see the tamed tiger.”
“Mynheer,” the missionary replied, “here is Africaner standing before you.”
The Dutch farmer gazed in wonder at the smiling black chief, and asked, “Are you Africaner?”
“I am, Mynheer,” the chief replied, with a bow.
“O God,” said the Dutchman, “what a miracle of Thy power. What can not Thy grace accomplish after this!”
Africaner was a new man. The world had heard of what he had done, and he rejoiced to tell the world what Christ had done for him. “I have been long, enough engaged in the service of the devil,” he would say, “but now I am free from this bondage. Jesus has delivered me. Him will I serve; with Him will I abide.”
ML-08/13/1972