p. 14 | The Outshining of Such a Home

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · May 27, 1908

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 34, No. 22.

The Outshining of Such a Home

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

WHAT do I mean by "such a home"?—I mean a home where Christ is recognized as Lord and Master. I mean a home where love dwells, and where hatred and selfishness are not tolerated.

Well, the good which always results from the outshining of such homes as these can not be measured,—for it is absolutely measureless. Because wonderful results are not always seen proves nothing. Eternity is long! and O my friends, when the dim veil which hides the blessed future shall be lifted, when all the records shall be read, and the hidden things made known, many a precious secret will be revealed. Many a quiet, unassuming man and woman—yes, and little child as well—will shine with dazzling beauty over there, where they who turn many to righteousness shall receive their reward. Then, and only then, will the real results of the outshining of such a home as described in our last be seen and fully comprehended.

But sometimes, even in this life, it is granted us to reap a little of the reward which over there we shall enjoy in all its blessed and eternal fulness. Sometime ago I read of a most wonderful experience in this connection. Despite the fact that some of my readers may have seen the same account, I will venture to tell the strange but beautiful story as I remember it, for it will bear repeating:

A number of years ago there lived, among the mountains of the Far West, a Christian family. The mother, an earnest, godly soul, was a woman of great faith, and one who watched for opportunities of doing good in her humble way.

Living about a mile from this family, was a poor old man who worked among the miners, and who was noted for his awful wickedness and daring blasphemies. This man lived all alone in a miserable cabin. So obnoxious had he made himself that he had no friends, even among the rough miners with whom he worked. One day the news came that this miserable creature was very ill with consumption. But so offensive and abusive was he, that the miners only came occasionally to the hut to throw his food in at the door, as one might treat a wild animal.

When the news reached the Christian family, the mother became so deeply impressed that she ought to visit this wretched man that she could get no rest. Her heart was touched at the thought of a fellow creature dying so near, and without hope in God. Finally she decided to visit him, taking with her something for his comfort. The next morning, with many misgivings, she approached and entered the hut. But to her kind ministrations, the wretched sufferer responded only in curses. Still, day after day, the woman visited him and brought him food—always with the same result—until, finally, she became discouraged and decided to give up. But in that night the Holy Spirit revealed to her the infinite worth of the human soul for which the sinless Son of God had paid such a price. With this revelation, such a burden for the soul of this poor, desolate creature came upon her that she could not sleep. In self-abandonment and condemnation that she should have given up the battle so easily, she lay prone upon the floor. At last, peace came to her. She would take up her duty once more. This very day she would talk freely to the sick man about his soul; and if he still cursed her, she would at least have done her duty. Still in her heart she laid hold of the promise of God, and fully expected the conversion of the wretched man.

But in the morning, just as she was starting out, a neighbor called, with her little girl, and, learning of the purpose of the woman to visit the dying man, decided to accompany her, even taking the little girl with her.

"Now," thought the hostess, "how can I talk to the man as I intended? I can say but little in the presence of this woman and her child." So, with a sad and burdened heart, she set out in company with her unwelcome guest.

Their reception was the same—only, if possible, more bitter. Meantime the little girl had remained outside the cabin. Suddenly, in the midst of the curses of the poor wretch, a childish laugh rang out.

An expression of astonishment and joy passed over the face of the sick man. "What is that?" he sharply demanded.

"A child? a little girl? may I see her? O, will she come in?" he cried eagerly. The door opened, and with a look of innocent wonder on her face, the child approached the bedside. Eagerly the great, bony hands were outstretched. Tenderly as a woman’s the trembling fingers toyed with the golden curls, while the great tears rained down the hollow cheeks. The flinty heart was melted by the touch of a little hand. "I’s so sorry for the poor man. Katie’ll pray to God for him."

Then there followed such a scene as can but poorly be described. The groans of the sick man and his cries for mercy, mingled with the simple prayer of the child, reached the listening ear of the Infinite.

Then, in broken tones, the sick man told his pitiful story. The memory of his mother and of his wife was but a memory of loathing and bitterness. His wife had been false to him and his mother a prostitute. But God had given him a sweet, golden-haired little girl. She had loved him. But after a little while He had taken her away. Then, and ever after, until the present moment, he had cursed God for the providence which robbed him of his child.

The conclusion is soon told, the sick man was soundly converted; and as if he would in some way atone for the past, he sent far and near for his old comrades. With wondering faces they entered his cabin. Tears stole down their rough cheeks as they listened to the story of what Christ had done for his soul; and finally, before the death of the poor penitent, he had the joy of witnessing the greatest revival which had ever been known in those regions.

O, it pays, it pays gloriously to be true to Christ. The influence of one pure and earnest life is like the shining of the eternal lamps of heaven; for "the path of the just is as the shining light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day."