A brilliant American student of wealthy parents fell a victim to infidelity, and turned his back on his early Christian training. One day he was so thoroughly dissatisfied with life that he remarked to his mother, “I’m tired of it all. I’m going to leave and will not bother you anymore.” She followed him to the door, pled and wept over him, then gave her final word; “My boy, when you come to the darkest hour of all, and everything seems lost, if you will honestly call on your mother’s God, He will not fail you.”
Out into the darkness he went. His sin, particularly his infidelity, was driving him swiftly to destruction. Down and down he went in his headlong, reckless course, until he felt he could stand it no longer. When 427 miles from home, in a hotel in a certain town, he decided on suicide. Wearied with his sinful life, he got out of bed at an early hour, and prepared for the end, “I’ll bring to an end this farce called ‘human life,’” he said to himself. Just then there was flashed across his memory the last words of his mother before he left home years before. “My boy, when you came to the darkest hour of all and everything seems lost, if you will honestly call on your mother’s God, He will not fail you.”
A power gripped him, restraining him and bringing him to his knees to pray thus: “O God of my mother, if there is such a Being, I want light, and if Thou wilt give it, no matter how, I will follow it.” God shone into his darkened mind, broke down his stubborn will, and without hesitation, he received Christ as his Saviour.
His first thought was to return home and tell his mother. Setting out immediately, he soon arrived at the gate of the old home. There, to his amazement, his mother came walking down the garden path toward him with smiling face and tears intermingled. “O my boy, I know why you are back,” she exclaimed, “You have found the Lord, for He has told me.” This young man became the well-known evangelist, Dr. R. A. Torrey, who was used of the Lord to win many souls for Christ in many lands, who himself was won by a mother’s love.
Such love points us to the very heart of God and to the cross of Christ, where that love was made known in its fullness. “For God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:88But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8), The beloved John wrote: “God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him.” 1 John 4:8, 98He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. (1 John 4:8‑9).
Shall such amazing love be lavished upon us in vain? Or shall it break us, melt us, and bring us, like it did young Torrey, in repentance to the feet of the Saviour? Which shall it be?
ML 03/05/1961