I had just returned to our headquarters in the heart of the Malayan jungles, when one of the young native workers asked me if I would come out and talk to a man who had walked many miles through the jungles to meet the man who could tell him about the white man’s God.
In the front yard I saw one of the wildest-looking Sakais I had ever seen. His hair looked as if it were in full bloom, for it sprouted out in all directions. His eyes flashed as I walked across the yard.
He looked a little bewildered as he stood holding his long blowpipe over his shoulder. He was barefooted and wore no clothing except a small loincloth and a dirty shirt.
Then I heard the story. This Sakai had indirectly heard news that there was a white man who could tell him about the true God. He had walked for several days now to satisfy his own curiosity. I don’t know whether he was disappointed or not when he saw me; however, there was no visible signs of any satisfaction.
We invited him to stay and have something to eat, as the young workers proceeded to tell him the wonderful story of Jesus. There is nothing quite like the experience of watching such a person receiving the good news of salvation for the first time.
Occasionally he would nod, then make a few grunts as though he were understanding—and then finally a smile broke over his face. It wasn’t long afterward that this young Sakai from the jungles found Jesus as his own personal Saviour.
He had come to see the man who knew the white man’s God. He left knowing the white man’s God was the brown man’s God as well. It was thrilling beyond words to see how the Gospel worked. These were men for whom Christ died, and they were really hungry for the Gospel.
A WONDERFUL DISCOVERY
Time and time again we found them anxious to hear. Many of them believed when they heard the first time. They seemed to be ripe for the good news of salvation. Eagerly they would listen, and even in the middle hours of the night we were awakened to tell them more about wonderful Jesus. This was real!
What a thrill it was to hear them say, “If Jesus loved us so much that He would die for us, surely we want to believe in Him!”
On one occasion we were invited to visit Sakais in a new section, and after a long journey we reached their hut late in the afternoon. Weird moans, weeping, wailing and the booming of jungle drums could be heard, and grew louder as we approached their jungle hut.
We learned that one of the older men was ill, and that the witch doctor, who had tried to cure him without result, had now resorted to his last hope- which was the evil spirits-chasing dance.
JUNGLE DRUMS
There was no use trying to make contact with them in all that confusion, we thought, and so we proceeded to make our camp and tried to sleep, with all those hideous sounds and throbbing drums beating continuously.
Just before daybreak, silence again filled the little jungle valley, but I was too tired to realize fully what had happened, and fell off into a deep sleep. Not for long however, for I was awakened by the shouts and laughter of Sakai men.
Rising in my cot, I saw a large group of Sakais following two men who were carrying something wrapped in a mat and tied to a long pole. They seemed to be heading out into the jungles.
“What is the matter? Where are they going?” I asked. A native told me that the sick man had died and they were taking him out to be buried. When silence had come earlier that morning, it had meant that the man was dead.
There was something about all this that seemed backwards. But was it? These Sakais wailed and cried while the man was dying, to let him know while he lived how much they would miss him when he was gone. But after death took him, laughter and work went on as usual. There was no use to weep any longer, now that he was gone.
Quickly, I put on my clothes and caught up with the group, who were now far out in the jungles. I watched with keen interest the first Sakai burial I had ever witnessed. But while I stood there, something gripped my heart. This man they were burying never had a chance to accept or reject Christ.
The full realization of it startled me. This man had died right while we were there. Then things began to add up in my mind—the fact that this same thing was happening to multiplied millions the world over. Men were born into these jungles. They lived their whole lives through and died without one chance to know of Jesus and His saving power.
NO CHOICE IN THE MATTER
Shocking was the realization—a Christless grave before my very eyes. And far too often this was happening the world over because the message of salvation came too late.
One by one they pass away. “Unfortunate,” you say. Yes, very. “Sad, too, isn’t it?” Yes, very sad. “My, how we pity those poor savages!” But listen, friend, they do not need your pity- they need our Christ!
America seems to forget that she has the Gospel—the remedy that these men need. These people can’t help it because they were born out in the jungles-but we can help them to know about the Christ who died to give them eternal life.
Do we dare stand back with a superior attitude as if we really owed them nothing, when we know that all we have was given us by the mercy of God?
Can’t you see that Christ is the only remedy for a sin-sick world, and that without Him men are totally lost? Could you place yourself in the same position as these lost jungle men? Can’t you realize the deep revelation, the deep sense of gratitude that sweeps over their hearts when they hear this eternal story and believe?
My, how important it is to be faithful to these men with this message that Christ has committed to us! For all eternity there will be thanksgiving if we fail them not.
CHRIST COULD CHOOSE
Bringing it closer home—why wasn’t your soul wrapped in a brown body of flesh and born out in a jungle? You didn’t pick your place of birth! You have no right to be proud or indifferent—just happy and very thankful. We have a rare privilege, we who have been with the chance to know of Christ.
Christ is the only One who ever chose His place of birth. He left Heaven and chose to be born in this old world. He, who had all power, could have been indifferent to men—but He wasn’t. He could have ignored us all—but He didn’t. He could have lived in ease and escaped the Cross—but His heart went out to a world.
OUR SACRED TRUST
He, who chose His place of birth, chose also to give His life for the whole world. On the cross of Calvary He made ample provision for all men. He himself became the remedy.
Christ has entrusted to us the knowledge of His living Word and His great plan of salvation. My, what a sacred obligation we have to those who have never heard—to those for whom He also died!
For “how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?” Far too long we have thought this referred to “how shall the unbeliever escape if he neglects to accept Christ?”
But it is talking about “WE,” who believe and have been redeemed—how shall WE escape if we neglect so great salvation; if we neglect to give this message to a world of lost men?
