salvation,” God’s abundant gift to man. The visitors were very quiet. Their enthusiasm to enter the Jesus religion vanished. Failing to secure a promise of financial and material help, the visitors departed. In parting they sug gested that perhaps next Sunday the teacher need not bother about coming out to their village. Coming near to the border — yet so far! ALMOST — BUT FOR THE PLEASURE OF SIN The little group seated on the floor mats were alert and attentive to the Gospel message. The young Thai man and his family had been prosperous, yet his money had brought nothing but heartache and gross sin in his life. He was moved by the message. The Holy Spirit was doing a work in his heart. After the service, the missionary and the young man talked till midnight. In those quiet hours, sin was confessed, and a prayer of dedi cation and renewal was offered. From now on his life would be for God. For a few weeks, the entire family seemed to be drawn closer together and there was a genuine thirst for God’s Word. Neither was Satan idle. The old life, old friends, old pleasures came creeping back into the life. Cig arettes, drink, adultery and lust were pressing in. The pleasures of sin could be purchased so easily. Renewing friendship with the world, he was convinced that such a life could be considered the normal Christian life — at least for the Thai. He saw noth ing wrong with the pleasures of sin and a half-hearted acceptance of God’s Word. His heart grew cold. Frustra tion and defeat returned to haunt him and the old self-life became victori ous. The assurance of salvation was no longer evident. So he continues to live, as it were, on the border of the Kingdom, never sure of his nationality, not knowing whether he is of this world or of the world to come. Now and then, when convenient, he seeks to taste of the good fruit of the Kingdom, but by mixing with the world, he lives on the border and is unable to cross over. He trusts in the illusion that in the end he will be saved. So close. Knowing the promise — yet coming short! ALMOST — BUT TOO LATE! Nai Ta was a very pleasant man. He, his wife and three children at tended the preaching service regular ly. He learned many of the songs and liked to sing. It seemed, however, that his progress towards the Kingdom ended there. He was unable to ch<’ _fse.
But some do believe , such as this Somehow his faith did not reach up ward. Walking a day’s journey, he came to the new government hospital for a minor operation. When he arrived, he was healthy and strong — yet three days later he was dead. He died out side of Christ. Eternity and heaven were lost to him forever. The sacri fice of Jesus upon the cross was in vain as far as Nai Ta was concerned. For weeks he sat on the fringes of God’s Kingdom. He knew God’s prom ise and had even tasted some of its fruits. He was almost ready to cross over — but lost. Forever lost! Yes, it is painful to watch men and women come to the very border, prepare to cross over >— some day — only to be lost! Choose you this day whom ye shall serve! LORD, I BELIEVE—BE MERCIFUL TO ME A SINNER It was an ordinary meeting, one of those “ get acquainted” kind. The foreigner was new, the story of the cross fascinating, but hard to grasp. One old lady had made a special ef fort just to come and see the strange foreigner before she died. Satisfied that he was human and much like everyone else, she hobbled back to her house. The others stayed and listened. All were interested but no one was ready
Lu tribe evangelist and his fam ily to “ enter” — that is, all but one old man who sat quietly in a far comer listening intently. He said he wanted to be baptized today. The missionary felt he was a little hasty and didn’t fully understand what he was doing. The old man was insistent and straightforward. Without shame, he looked the missionary in the eye and said that he was ready. Later the mis sionary learned that this man had studied the message of Jesus for over a year and he was thoroughly con vinced and ready. After a few more questions, it seemed right that this man should be baptized. After a bit of searching, some deep water was found. “Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God? Do you take him as your own per sonal Saviour?” asked the missionary. “Yes, I believe!” he answered posi tively. Whereupon he was buried with his Lord in Christian baptism. Being a blacksmith by trade, he was soon called to a nearby village to do some special work. His shining tes timony has already stirred an interest in this village. How fearful to say, “Almost — but lost!” Realizing his sinful condition, he cries out, “ Lord, be merciful to me a sinner.” Then what a joy it is to hear these wonderful words, “ Lord, I believe.”
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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