THE INFLUENCE OF A CHANGED LIFE by Mrs. Emma Thompson Anderson

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 23, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 12.

THE INFLUENCE OF A CHANGED LIFE.

By Mrs. Emma Thompson Anderson

BY MRS. EMMA THOMPSON ANDERSON.

PERHAPS in no part of the world does one see more striking examples of the wonderful power of the free salvation of God than in heathen lands. As a lighted candle brought into a dark room appears to shine the larger and the brighter because of enclosing darkness, so a life illuminated by the divine kindling of a new life appears most lustrous when seen on the dark background of heathen superstition and degradation—the transforming power of redemption the more potent because of the impotence with which it is contrasted in its surroundings. Then may it truly be said, "The Lord hath made known His salvation; His righteousness hath He openly showed in the sight of the heathen." Ps. 98:2. And while these unbelieving heathen may often at first regard the spectacle of transformation as a piece of necromancy or conjuration, in time, as the substantial fruits of righteousness appear, they are forced to admit the facts, as were those of their class who watched the unusual course of events bringing about the restoration of the people and kingdom of Israel: "Then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them." Ps. 126:2.

While visiting a mission station up the great West River, more than one hundred and fifty miles inland, on the very western border of the province of Kwangtung, I one day noticed a group of five or six men gathered about the native pastor, in the reception room off the mission chapel, with open Bibles, engaged in earnest conversation. From the rustic appearance of their garments, I knew they had come from an interior country village, and suspected the object of their visit to be the contents of the books with which they were at that moment so intently engaged.

"Yes," said my hostess, a young woman of less than twenty-three years, and the only foreigner living at the station, "they are inquirers from a village about twenty miles farther up the river, and back in the country." Then she proceeded to relate to me the story of the way in which the winged seed of the Gospel had made its way into a place where no messenger had been sent. Some months before, a man in a rather hapless state found his way through the street door of this same little chapel into the lighted room where the pastor was seeking to exalt Jesus as the Friend of the friendless, the Saviour of the helpless. Something that was said stuck fast, and he came again, and again the next day in the afternoon, and to all the meetings, and at the end of four or five days went away.

A taste, however, had proved to him that the Lord is good, and in about a month's time he came back, in a much better state, both of mind and body. After a week spent in earnest study, he requested baptism and admission to the church; but, as he lived at such a distance, and was so little known to the church, he was requested to wait till some one could visit him at his home. He readily consented, and returned to his family. A few weeks later his eldest brother, with a friend, called on the pastor, and asked to be allowed to purchase at any price some of the magic potion which they supposed the Christians had given the converted man.

"Why," they said, "he is a new man! Before, he smoked opium, was indolent, and left his family to its own support, was blasphemous, and a bad man among his neighbors."

"I did not know what to do with him," said the elder brother, with a paternal air. "But he is all changed since his first visit to the Christians. He has left off his bad habits, tends to business, and cares for his family, while he continually labors to teach his neighbors to follow his good example."

A mandarin with his family in their drawing-room. He is a state official, but his official dress has been laid aside.

It was no magic potion administered by the Christians, the pastor assured them, which had wrought this great change in their brother, but the power of a crucified and risen Saviour, as set forth in the little book which he would give them. And then, as time was limited, with the New Testament Scriptures in their pockets, they resumed their journey homeward, more astonished than when they came, by the things they had heard. Several weeks had now elapsed since their visit, and this company of men had come on foot, as a representative delegation—the best-educated men of the village, selected by the community to visit the mission, and if, after investigation, the new doctrine met their approval as sound, to invite a teacher to proclaim it among them. Such was the benign influence of one thoroughly-changed life.

Did I say no messenger had been sent there? Let us not think that in dark China the only messengers carrying the glad news of salvation from self and sin are the authorized supported agents of societies; for even yet Jesus calls to Himself whom He will, and, having filled their souls from the fountain of living waters, sends them home to bless kinsmen and friends with the overflowings of the welling fount. Every one who heareth is permitted to say, "Come." It had happened to this man according to the words of Zechariah (8:13): "And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, . . . so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing." Tho we may have been indifferent, the Lord has never forgotten the heathen. "For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same My name shall be great among the Gentiles [heathen]; and in every place incense shall be offered unto My name, and a pure offering; for My name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of Hosts." Mal. 1:11.

Canton, China.