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A HAPPY MISTAKE

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 24, 1901

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 78, No. 39.

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A HAPPY MISTAKE.

By Geo. Laforge

GEO. LAFORGE.
  • (Hume Mich.)*
I saw an article in a recent REVIEW requesting those who had lately come into the truth to send an account of their experience. I have an experience which is very precious to me. I have been in the truth about two years. Up to a little over a year ago I never went inside of a church to listen to a sermon. But I wish to speak of how deep down the love of God will reach to save one sinner. I have always been an extremely hard-drinking man, sometimes not drawing a sober breath for weeks. Whisky and tobacco were my god. The first thing I thought of when I awoke in the morning, would be where I was going to get a drink of whisky, and I chewed from five to ten cents' worth of tobacco in a day. I tried every way to quit the use of it, but always failed until I accepted Christ as my Saviour, putting myself into His hands.
Between four and five years ago I was working in a saloon and gambling hall, in Wisconsin. I was about as low down as I could get — drunk all the time. One day I borrowed a book, and by mistake was given a copy of “Great Controversy.” I read it, and was convinced that it teaches the truth. I was deeply convicted of sin, and desired to lead a better life, but felt that I could not make a start there, as everybody knew me, and no one would have any confidence in me. Not having any money, I asked the Lord to open a way for me to move, even into the woods, or to any place where no one knew me, and promised I would lead a better life. Time passed, and I kept up my old life, forgetting all about my prayer until the war with Spain broke out, when I enlisted, and was sent South. My family followed in about two weeks. I was mustered out in Alabama, and drew money enough to take me where I wanted to go. My brother-in-law in Mason City, Iowa, wrote me to come there, and go to Minnesota with him. So we went, and put up a house in the woods.
Thus the Lord fulfilled His part of the contract, but I forgot mine until I happened to get hold of the same book again. At this time I had about twenty-five cents' worth of tobacco, and remembering my promise, I threw the tobacco away, and asked the Lord to take away from me the appetite for it and whisky, and praise His holy name, I have not had a desire for either from that day to this. My wife, my son, and I kept the next Sabbath; and we have been wonderfully blessed of the Lord. God's love for the sinner, which leads Him to reach out to save one as low down as I was, who never spoke His name only in an oath, is amazing. I hope that I may have the prayers of the brethren and sisters that I may remain faithful unto the end.