A Testimony to the Lord's Faithfulness
By J. Wibbens
The Lord has led one of our brethren in Rotterdam in a most remarkable way from darkness to light, and since his acceptance of the truth, in many wonderful ways the Lord has shown that he is near those who trust him fully. I have asked this brother to write some of his experiences, which I believe will be the means of encouraging God's people to trust him, and take him at his word. “Many of God's dear people, when they turn the pages of Holy Writ, and read of the Lord's wonderful dealings with his people of old, even though they believe him to be the same to all and over all, secretly entertain the idea that the days of miracles are in the hoary past, or that those of the present are of a very inferior nature.” “God, however, is just as willing now as ever to interpose and work for his people who trust him, and even to make the world stand in awe because of his visible interference.” “As we are exhorted to remember and meditate upon all the work of the Lord, and to talk of his doings, I relate the following testimony of God's goodness to me:—” “At the close of 1895 our little daughter of nearly five years of age was taken ill, and at the end of two months died. The illness and death of this dear child was the means of bringing my wife and myself to God. As the hart pants after the water brooks, so our souls thirsted for the truth. I went to everybody whom I thought to be a Christian. I invited many to come to our home, but, strange as it seemed to me, I found none who could open the Scriptures to me in truth. At last I prayed to God that he would send a Philip to me on my way; and when I came home the following day, I found a circular—an invitation to a Bible reading. I said, ‘This is from God; for I have asked him for this very thing.’” “To relate all the circumstances connected with this experience, wonderful as they were to me, would make my article too long; but suffice it to say, I feasted evening after evening, often till half-past two in the morning, on the plain truths of God. This continued for some time, till, on account of the illness of Brother Rijsdam, another brother came to visit me. He began to talk on the Sabbath question. I was surprised and confused, as I had just begun to be a strict Sunday15observer. I told him that I would pray God to show me his will, but I was not going to keep the Sabbath simply because he said so. He left a few tracts. That evening I sought the Lord to show me which day was the proper one to observe, and so fell asleep. While asleep, I had a dream. I stood at the brink of a river, and called upon God, ‘Lord, which day?’ Upon this, there appeared a hand in the heavens, which seemed to write in letters of fire, ‘Remember the Sabbath day.’ I answered, ‘Yes, Lord, I know that, and I will; but which—the first or the seventh?’ A second time a hand appeared, and wrote: ‘Six days shalt thou labor, . . . but the seventh day,’ etc., and through the word ‘seventh’ the word ‘first’ was written. Now I knew just as much as before. Had God made this change, or had men? I questioned by myself. I pondered and studied, but could not resolve to read the tracts. It seems as if I had a presentiment that if I read them, I would be convinced that the seventh day was the right day. At last I picked them up and read them; and, sure enough, I knew more than I wished to know. I put the matter off for a few months, when I should have a more convenient time. But the Spirit of God continued to labor with me, and I had just time enough to make a decision at a time rather inconvenient to me.” “Being superintendent in a large business house, it was with great anxiety that I went to the proprietor to inform him of my intention. At first he pronounced me insane; but, after much disputing and consideration, concluded to keep me, and allow me to keep the Sabbath. I was very grateful, and assured my proprietor that God would certainly bless him for this. This expression was scornfully received, but most gloriously fulfilled.” “The place where we had our store was repeatedly flooded, as often as the northwesterly gales would cause an extraordinary rise of the river. I was the appointed and responsible person to see that the flood boards were set out whenever we had any apprehensions of such a tide, to protect our lowly located store. Nearly a year after I began to keep the Sabbath, on a night between Friday and Sabbath, a storm came up from the northwest, and caused the river to flood the streets. I was aroused toward morning, and thought first of going to the store; but the thought, ‘It is Sabbath, then shalt thou do no work,’ obtained the victory, and I left the matter in the hands of the Lord.” “Now, I was all the while laboring under a heavy burden on account of the worldly articles there, I was looking out for another position, in case my proprietor should dismiss me. During this Sabbath a feeling of hope and fear came upon me: of hope that on account of apparent intentional indifference as manifested in not paying any attention to the storm, I should be sent away, and of fear of receiving a severe reprimand. I felt, however, quite calm and satisfied, because it was God's day. On the evening after the Sabbath I had to be present. On my way, everywhere I saw the people busy pumping the water out of stores and basements. Coming to the store, I found everything as usual, and everybody at work. Back of the office I met the son of the proprietor, who asked me whether I had heard anything of the water. ‘Yes,’ I answered, ‘but you know it was the Lord's day, and—’ ‘Yes, yes,’ interrupted he, ‘but have you not heard of the great miracle?’ A gleam of hope flashed through my mind, and in stillness I praised God.” “‘Early in the morning,’ continued the young man, ‘I came to the store, and had to wade up to my knees through the water. [The floor of the store was nearly one foot lower than the street.] I expected everything to be lost; for there was much to be ruined. Opening the door, I came into the hall, and going to the left of the door that led to the store, I was about to open it, when I noticed through the window in the door a chair, which, instead of floating on the water, stood upright. I looked again and again, and saw that the water that I thought stood in the store was only a reflection of the water in the hall.’” “‘Through constant use, the threshold of this door which led from the hall into the store had been so worn that a pencil of ordinary size could be pushed under the door, and if any water should happen to be in the hall, it would naturally flow also into the store. Surprised and frightened at the sight, he left the door closed, and went to one of the neighbors, and through a back way got into the dry store, ran up to the door, and saw the water standing up about one-half inch high before the opening. With feverish haste they now went to close the hole, and even those who were not accustomed to praise God acknowledged, ‘This, God must have done.’ I repeated the test with a glass of water, which hurriedly ran into the store. Even the same week another flood came upon a working day. I gave orders to put out the flood boards, and helped in the work, and with the best of our ability we were hardly able to stem the tide, and to prevent the water from streaming into the store. I then saw what kind of God I served, and believed that I could rely perfectly upon him. I left my position voluntarily, which had become sin to me. I began business for myself, to the great surprise of my family, who considered me at first somewhat beside myself, as I had had full liberty to keep the Sabbath. But God did not disappoint my faith, but amply verified his word, and blessed me to the marvel of my former proprietor and acquaintances.’” So much for the narrative of the brother. How true it is that when we keep pace with the advancing light, the Lord can make us a praise in the earth, and through our faithfulness lead others to know him.