How My Brother Came Into the Truth

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 13, 1916

How My Brother Came Into the Truth

AUGUST PAGES

My next older brother, now forty-one years of age, has been an officer of the Bureau of the Electrical Street Railway Company of Copenhagen for almost twenty years. During that time I have been continually corresponding with him, and seldom has a letter left my hands in which I did not in some way try to interest him in his soul’s salvation. About eleven years ago he was married, and I sent him as a wedding present the book “Prophecies of Jesus,” in the Danish language, and bade him read it also to his wife.

Until last year my efforts seemed to have been in vain; but the Lord finds ways and means to convert hearts. Leading souls to Jesus is possible only through the working of the Spirit of God. Now I am very happy, for before the end of the year 1914 I could claim my brother as one whom I, through the grace of God, had led to Jesus. How this came about the following extracts from his letters will explain:—

May 13, 1910. “I must confess that, to this date, I have fulfilled none of your requests concerning the studying of the Holy Scriptures; neither have I any excuse, except it be that I have a kind of secret fear to start, for I believe that you are right, only you are fanatic; for a person can exaggerate all things. For the rest, I know positively that my wife would not follow me, and yet I pledged at the marriage altar to be a true husband to my wife and a good father to my children. The result is, we get along too well, we are too much attached to earthly things.”

Aug. 27, 1914. “Alas, dear brother, I have often envied you because of your faith. For a long time I have noticed that I was in need of something. I have never been fully satisfied. One Sunday, while out in the woods, I listened for a moment in passing to a sermon by a Salvation Army worker. I had to proceed, for the tears rushed into my eyes and I was ashamed. It was all true, what that man preached,—but with that it remained. I have not been in church for many years, because the sermons never impressed me, yet I have often been impressed the same way while listening to street speakers as I was while listening to the Salvation Army preacher in the grove.”

Nov. 21, 1914. “A month ago the Adventists began to hold a course of lectures in their chapel. I attended several times, and the services impressed me greatly, especially the last sermon, on living faith. I had heard this preacher about a year ago, but at that time I was not much impressed. I have now bought several tracts, and have read some out of the Bible, and am praying to the almighty God to send me his Holy Spirit, ‘for the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.’”

Dec. 12, 1914. “Through the grace of God, I have kept my first Sabbath today. The Lord has heard your prayer and my supplications. Eight days ago I did not realize that I should keep my first Sabbath today. Your last letter, and also the lectures of late, which I attended before your letter reached me, have moved me. On my knees I prayed to the Lord that made heaven and earth. As you undoubtedly know, I have always acknowledged your doctrine to be the right one, but O how difficult, yes, almost impossible, it seemed to part from this world, possibly also from my position, and from my good home, for what would my wife say, my friends and relatives. But every evening after prayer these thoughts vanished more and more. On Wednesday, the ninth of this month, I prayed the Lord to give me a

vision in dream, or permit me to see an angel, as a sign that I should keep the Sabbath. The following morning I awoke early, but had seen nothing in dream, and so I lay in bed and prayed and prayed, and thought over why the Lord did not hear my prayer. Gradually it became more clear to me that it was unjust of me to pray for such a thing, for the Lord might answer me, ‘They have Moses and the prophets,’ etc. Thus the last wrestle ended; and when I arose, I had conquered, and had made the decision to inform my director that day that henceforth I could not work on Sabbaths. This came to him as a great surprise, and he replied immediately that I would have to consider myself dismissed. I answered him that I must serve the Lord more than men. I have left the whole matter in the hands of the Lord, and in better hands it cannot be. My heart is so light and happy, and rejoices every time I speak the glorious message to somebody else. I visited Elder Raft for the first time, when I told him my happy decision. He rejoiced greatly. We prayed together. Dear brother, I also thank you that you did not tire of keeping the truth ever before me.”

March 18, 1915. “After eighteen months of stormy battling the Lord has, in his unlimited grace, put his peace into my heart. In this short time I have had great opportunity to learn through experience that the Lord hears my prayers. I have a little private office for myself, and this has also become my prayer chamber. Here I begin and end my work with prayer.”

May 7, 1915. “Today I am able to communicate to you the good news that on the fifth of this month, I with seventeen other brethren have made the covenant of a good conscience with the living God through baptism. I am so happy and joyful, and thankful to the Lord that he has led me so wonderfully, and that my heart feels light, since I have laid my cares on him who cares for us.”

His case was referred to a special commission of the city board for examination, and they decided to retain him for the present, according to his wish, with reduced wages, with the permit of freedom on Sabbaths. In the daily paper Politiken, of June 25, his case was published in detail. At the end of the article the writer remarked, “There is probably no great danger at hand that many will come and beg to have the Sabbath off, with a reduction of 1,200 crowns on their salary per year.”

Dear brethren, my heart rejoices greatly to report this. It pays to work and pray for souls. Let us not tire in this work, for it has a reward which is not comparable with gold or silver.

Brazil.