AS I take up my pen, there rises before my mind the quiet, peaceful little town of Gembloux, in Belgium, that unfortunate land which is once more the scene of fighting and bloodshed. This town has been mentioned as one of the places through which the German army passed, not with such acts of cruelty as is reported to have taken place in other towns, perhaps, but we can hardly believe that they left it as they found it.
At any rate, we know that the inhabitants must have been terror-stricken as they saw the approach of the hostile army.
About a fortnight before war was declared party of friends and myself visited several towns in Belgium, distributing Gospels and tracts, which were everywhere so well received that we had felt greatly encouraged in our work.
On our return journey from Dinant to Ostend we stopped at Gembloux, and gave books in every direction.
I had given several to men on a level crossing, which was guarded by a young man in uniform, who took one very politely. As I was about to return to the station a friend called my attention to this young fellow holding up his paper, and evidently wanting to speak to me. I hurried back to him, when he gave me the tract, saying, “I will return this, as I have read it.”
“Oh!” I said, “excuse me, but you cannot have read it in these few minutes. Perhaps you do not care for these things?”
With a shrug of his shoulders, he said, “Indeed I do not, as I do not believe them,” adding some infidel remarks about the Lord Jesus.
It was difficult to say all I wanted in French, and by this time several men had come round, and were eagerly listening. But I was helped just to say that he might go on in his unbelief, and do without Christ, but how would he meet death, and after death the judgment?
His answer I shall never forget. With another shrug of his shoulders, and in a mocking tone, he replied: “Oh! I eat, I drink, I smoke, I enjoy myself as much as possible.”
“And then, when it is all over,” I interrupted, “what then?”
“Oh! I shall die, and that will be the end of me.”
“Oh! then you think you are no better than a beast?” I said.
This seemed to arrest him for a moment, and his face was grave as I added:
“I would not change places with you, for I know I am going to live again, and with Christ in heaven, which makes me very happy. You, too, will rise again, for you have a soul that will live forever. I shall pray for you.”
To which he replied: “Thank you, madame, but it is no use.”
Again I said, “I shall pray for you,” and was leaving to catch the train, but not before two or three of those standing round put out their hands for books, saying, “I believe, I believe; but that young man is bad.”
When a man in the signal-box near by put out his hand for a book, and the young skeptic would have taken one to him, a big man with a happy face came forward, saying, “No, he must not give it; I will, for I believe.”
This somewhat astonished me.
Thus the company on the level crossing at Gembloux quickly divided into two parties, for a few lads sided with the young man, and appeared to think it all a joke.
Hundreds of years ago people were similarly divided, for it says in John 7:4343So there was a division among the people because of him. (John 7:43): “There was a division among the people because of Him” [the Lord Jesus].
Reader, which side would you have taken at Gembloux? Would you have been able to join those men who said, “I believe”? Do you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour from sin and its consequences? Or do you, even now, shrug your shoulders and choose to go on in your sins, slighting the One who gave His life a ransom for all? Do you think the young man was quite wise and right in summing up his whole life in the words, “I eat, I drink, I smoke, I enjoy myself”?
Surely you would not say that you believe when you die you will be done with? No, you have a soul that will live forever and ever. Where? Stop now and answer that question—Where? Turn to the Saviour of sinners, confess your need, and accept His wonderful salvation, offered to you without money and without price; and then live for Him, and tell others what great things He has done for you.
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Now, as I close, I see that there has been fighting around Gembloux, and the question arises in my mind, what has become of all those men? Have they had to face death—and so soon? How many were ready? Are you?
M. J. R.