Love Covereth
Fred Bates wanted to be a Christian. The pastor had called on two occasions to speak with Fred concerning his soul. Each time Fred had shown deep interest but had failed to take the deciding step. Every Sunday evening he was in church and listened attentively. Once more the minister was calling at the Bates' home and this time at Fred's own request.
"Mr. MacArthur," Fred began, "there is one thing that stands in my way of accepting Jesus Christ as my Saviour. It has been there all the time, but not until the last few days have I been able to bring myself to the place where I could tell you what it is.
"Fifteen years ago," Fred continued, "I was working for a certain firm. I was only 17 at the time. I liked my work, and everything went well for about six weeks, when one day I noticed that the men with whom I worked seemed to avoid me and would stand in groups talking amongst themselves. About two o'clock I was told I was wanted in the office. I found that not only the president wished to see me, but there were five other men present. The president was standing with his hand on the open safe door.
"He said, 'Mr. Bates, I'm sorry for you, but if you will confess and return what you have taken, I'll drop the matter at once.' I was dumfounded." " 'Confess?' I said. 'What shall I confess? I have taken nothing nor have I, to the best of my knowledge, done anything that requires a confession.'
"The president looked in surprise at me and was about to speak when the manager of the firm stepped to the center of the floor and addressing the president said, 'It's no use wasting time on him. He's evidently an old hand at the game.' A few words more were exchanged among the men, and though I pleaded with them to tell me of what I was accused, they refused to answer my question. After being given another opportunity to confess and being unable to give them any satisfaction, I was placed in a patrol car and taken to the city jail. There I was charged with larceny, but the details were not told me.
"How I suffered that night in jail, God only knows! The next day I was given a hearing and then it was that I discovered that $2,600.00 had been stolen from the safe in the office, and that I was accused of the theft. A detective had discovered that the money had been taken from the safe the day before I was arrested. The only people in the office at that time were the president, the manager, the office girl, and I. I had been summoned to answer a telephone call only to find the party had not waited. While I was there the president had been called to the shipping department with the manager. It was evident, they thought, that I had taken the money. The manager, accompanied by a detective, had gone to my boarding house, had searched my room in my absence, and had discovered the money bag under my mattress, but no money was found. They searched my room for letters telling of my past, but found none. It was evident to me that the few letters I had received from a friend of mine in my home town had been previously destroyed. They said I had succeeded very well in hiding my trail!
"I need not tell you about the days I awaited trial. Suffice it to say that I was found guilty by the court and sentenced to hard labor in the state penitentiary for a term of not less than five years. I was dazed. I could neither eat nor sleep. The injustice of the whole matter almost drove me mad. It was only when I was threatened with solitary confinement that I came to myself and realized that it would be better for me to make the best of my plight.
"Five years later I once more became a free man. I had mapped out my program while in jail. I had sworn that I would find the man who stole the money and placed the blame on me and that his life would pay for his crime. My heart was bitter. In a short time I discovered that the manager of the firm for which I had worked had resigned his position shortly before my release and that two months previous to his resignation the office safe had been entered at night and a large sum of money stolen. This confirmed my conviction that the manager was the thief in both instances. At once I began a search for him. I found he had deserted his wife and gone to Mexico where I went in search of him. He was a gambler, and it was no easy matter to find the places where he stayed; but once I got on his trail, I found plenty of men who had seen him and who had been fleeced of all their money. "After two years of futile searching I tired of my task, came north to St. Louis, and found employment. Stopping in front of a window display one evening on my way to my room, I felt, rather than saw, a man stop back of me and look at the display. Then a voice that I recognized at once said, 'That's some display, isn't it?' Without a moment's hesitation I turned and leaped at the man's throat, and then everything turned black. He had slugged me. I woke up in the hospital two days later, and when I was able to return to my room I found that he had not only taken my purse with over a hundred dollars that I had saved, but by means of an address on a letter in my pocket he had gone to my room and had stolen my clothes and traveling bag. These I recovered from a pawn shop a few days later with the aid of the police. But the man had succeeded in getting away safely.
"Once more I took to the trail and this time with something more deadly than my fists. I trailed him for over a year from one city to another, but always arrived too late. I finally gave up the hunt, settled down and established a home of my own. I am happy with my wife and little boy, but I cannot forget the past, and my heart longs for revenge whenever I think of that man. I have suffered in a way that few men have suffered, and revenge would be sweet. I would like to be a Christian. I know I need Christ. I know I am a sinner. But I wonder sometimes if one who hates as I hate and longs for revenge as I long for it can ever be saved. I know that if that man should enter this room this moment I would kill him. I cannot feel otherwise."
Fred had finished his story and both men sat for a moment in silence.
"I presume if I had gone through such an experience as you have just told me that I would feel much the same as you do," the minister said. "But Fred, have you ever stopped to think that Jesus Christ suffered, too, for crimes He had never committed? He, too, was innocent of any crime and yet He was spit upon and lashed, and beaten, and crucified, and treated as the lowest of criminals. Yet we hear Him say, as they nailed Him to the cross, 'Father, forgive them.' I know you can never speak as He did, but I do know that if you will accept Him as your Saviour that He will change your heart and it will be possible for you to pray for this man as He prayed for His enemies. 'Love covereth a multitude of sins,' and once that love of God fills a man's heart and life, his hatred gives way to love, and the longing for vengeance to a spirit of pity."
"I believe you," responded Fred, "but it is just what I don't want. It seems I am not willing to give up the desire to have revenge."
The minister leaned towards Fred. "What would you do if you were to meet this man who had caused you so much suffering?"
"I'd kill him," answered Fred with a flash of anger.
"Then what?"
"I presume that I'd be arrested and tried for the crime and possibly die in the electric chair."
"And what about your wife? What about Junior? What would they do then?"
Fred made no answer.
"And what about your soul?" the minister continued. "No murderer can enter the kingdom of heaven. Fred, you'd be a fool for doing anything like that. Can't you see it? You'd lose everything by such an act-your dear wife-your only son-your home-your soul-your joy-peace-everything! And what would you gain? Here you are in your own home with a loving wife and a darling child. The best years of your life are yet before you. But you would sell it all for the sake of revenge. Fred, is it worth it?"
Suddenly the front door opened, and little feet were heard coming through the hall. A childish voice called, "Daddy! Daddy!" Both men heard it and tears came to the eyes of both. Fred leaped to his feet and cried out in anguish of soul. "No, no! It isn't worth it," and sobbing, dropped to his knees on the floor.
Six months later a man knocked at the Bates' door and asked for a cup of coffee.
"Have him come in and eat breakfast with us," Fred called to his wife.
A moment later the stooped form of a poorly clad figure entered the kitchen, rubbing his hands in an effort to warm them. And Fred recognized the man for whom he had sought in vain for years. To all appearances the man had not recognized Fred. For a moment Fred's hands were clenched, and then they relaxed.
Following the morning meal Fred led in the morning family devotions. As they arose from their knees Fred turned towards the man and said, "I don't presume you remember me, Mr, Murly?" For a moment the man stared at Fred, and then the changed expression upon his face made an answer unnecessary. The man at once became uneasy, and Fred, noticing it, said, "Have no fear, Murly. I'll not harm you. Sit down."
Reluctantly the man obeyed, while Fred took a chair and sat opposite him.
"Mr. Murly," Fred began, "I am a Christian only six months and you can be thankful that I am. Had you appeared here six months ago as you have this morning, I would probably have taken your life without a moment's hesitation. But God has planned it otherwise, and I am glad for both of us that He did so."
Then he told the man of Christ, and pleaded with him to accept Jesus as his Saviour from sin.
" 'Tis no use, Mr. Bates," the man replied. "I am a hardened criminal and there's no hope for a man like me. I've committed so many crimes in my time that if I were to live for a hundred years I could not serve enough years to atone. I'm sorry I sinned against you as I did and, for some reason or other, since I came in here I regret the sinful life I have lived. But I'm getting old. Disease has laid its hands upon me because of my sins, and my days are few. I shall have to finish as I began."
Fred pleaded with the man to accept Christ, but the man insisted that there was no hope for him. Assured of Fred's forgiveness, the man left the house, but not before Fred once more prayed for him and placed in his hands several bills that would help him to find food and shelter at night.
Two months later a letter came.
"Dear Mr. Bates: After leaving you two months ago I became more and more disgusted with my life and longed for the change of which you spoke to me. One night I staggered into a mission, and although I didn't believe He'd do it, Jesus Christ pardoned and accepted me. Oh, the joy of that moment! But oh, the regret of my life!
"After that, I decided to tell the authorities of my past life, with the result that I have been committed to prison for life. I have also written to the firm and have told everything so as to clear your name. Since I came here I have broken down completely in health and the doctor says it is only a matter of a few weeks at the most. But I wanted to let you know that your kindness to me after the terrible crime I committed against you is responsible for my change of heart. But for you, I would now be sinking into hell. God bless you! How I wish I had always lived a clean, upright life. Oh, believe me, 'the way of the transgressor is hard,' and apart from Jesus Christ there is no real joy in life. Good-bye. Murly." -S. Paul Weaver
Send for a sample of different gospel tracts,
also the magazine, Faith and Victory.
FAITH PUBLISHING HOUSE
P. O. Box 518, Guthrie, OK 73044
|  |
|
