Providentially Guided Into the Way of Life by W. A. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 25, 1914

Providentially Guided Into the Way of Life

By W. A. S.

How one man was providently guided out of darkness into light is told by one of our missionaries in Brazil. The call had come to our Brazilian headquarters, from a German colony in the interior, for some one to come to teach the gospel. Elder J. H. Boehm, of the Clinton German Seminary (U. S. A.), had but landed in Brazil, and was asked to respond to this call. He found a number of families, Roman Catholics, earnestly desiring to know the way of life, and ready to walk in the light as the truths of the Scriptures were opened before them. He wrote in his first report:—

I must relate the experience of one of these families. A young man of about thirty, who had been reared a Roman Catholic, had never seen a Bible, and had lived a worldly life,—smoked, danced, swore, drank, gambled, and did everything a worldly life brings with it. At one time in the midst of all this he became very restless and uneasy about his life. He knew not why, but could find no peace. He knew not the still, small voice that was speaking to his heart.

Finally his wife became very ill. He thought she would surely die; so he threw himself down beside the bed on his knees, and prayed to the mother of Jesus; but no help came. So, looking to

God direct, he cried out, "If there is a God in heaven, help us now." His wife recovered at once. He could no longer doubt that there was a living, almighty God in heaven. Still he had not found the peace his soul was craving, for he was so burdened he was hardly able to do his work.

One day, as he was in the field, hoeing his corn, he was praying and longing in his soul for help. Suddenly a voice said to him, "Go to —'s." He turned around to see who spoke to him, but no one was in sight. (Mr. —, whose name was mentioned, was an old man who held religious meetings at times.) So he took this voice to be a voice from heaven. He fought this thought, "Go to —'s," for weeks; for he knew that everybody would laugh at him if he went to this man. Finally he overcame his feelings, and went, and began to read the Bible. He found forgiveness for his sins. And now he fell so in love with the Bible that he decided to follow all its precepts. He gave up his worldly pleasures, and found his pleasure in studying God's Word.

He continued to go to Mr. —'s, till he finally saw that the man's life did not harmonize with God's Word and its teaching. He called the old man's attention to these things. This made the man angry, and he put him out of the house. But he and his brother-in-law decided to hold to the Bible, and the Bible only. Now they stood all alone. They read the Bible, but they found much that they did not understand. So they prayed earnestly for light, and for some one to come who would show them the right way. When I came and held a few meetings with them, giving Bible studies also, they thanked God openly with all their hearts for sending a man, even from North America, to teach them. Again and again they thank God for his goodness. They take it as a direct answer to their prayer; therefore they do not hesitate to accept the message of preparation for the Lord's soon coming, as they see it clearly in God's Holy Word.

Soon numbers were walking in obedience to the light for these last days, and thus, by the direct intervention of God's providence, another center of light has been established in a dark Catholic land.

We look over the earth, and we see it even as described by the prophet, "The darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people;" but all about through the lands of darkness we see also the mighty working of the Spirit of God, preparing the way for the final witness to be borne. Let us pray God to raise up the consecrated workers and to supply the consecrated means by which to send the message to souls who are praying for light in the regions beyond.