Mr. Turner had been a missionary in Africa for many years. He had returned to spend his last few years in England, and he loved to tell of Jesus wherever he went. One day he was invited to speak to some girls at a boarding-school. Just the very day before, a young black prince from Africa had come to his home to visit him, so the old missionary said, “May bring my friend, the black prince, along with me?”
“Certainly,” said the bead mistress, “I am sure the girls would be glad to see him, and hear him too, if Ile would. like to speak to them.”
When Mr. Turner made this known to his colored friend, he was surprised and asked, “What can I say to young ladies who know God and love the Lord Jesus—I, who have only known Him such a little while?”
The answer of the missionary surprised him still more. “You say they know God, but that is a mistake. Of course, they have heard of Him ever since they were born, but some of them do not yet know Him, and their hearts have never been touched by His love.”
On arriving at the school, the missionary gave a little talk and showed them some idols and curiosities which he had collected in Yoruba, West Africa, and at the close he asked his colored friend to speak. The young prince began,
“Dear young ladies. I cannot say much to you, for I find your language is a very hard one to learn. I thought you all knew more than I do, for I have been brought up in a heathen country, and worshiped idols such as you have been looking at, and I have only known your God a little while. My friend, Mr. Turner, tells me that perhaps some of you do not know Him yet, and this seems so strange to me that I cannot find it in my head to believe it. Is it really true? Our gods an so wicked and hard and cruel we could not love them; but when your missionary came and told us about your God, how loving He is, and how He gave His Only dear Son to die such a cruel death to save us and to wash away our black sins, then my heart believed in Him and loved Him. Can you hear about such great love and not love Him back? My eyes feel as if they could weep for you; but you will soon get to know Him, won’t you? I must tell you that my father is a king, and I might be one next to him; but I do not want to be king, I want instead to go and tell my people about this loving God and His Son Jesus, and my brother may be king instead. I pray that you may soon all know God and take Jesus as your Saviour.”
One of the girls who listened did just what that young man from Africa asked. She was sorry for her own sin and ingratitude, and found no rest until she knew and believed in the love of God in Christ.
You may be well educated in the things of this world but ignorant of the love of God.
ML 10/15/1950