Thoughtful Moments

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 36, 18 January 1946, Page 2

Thoughtful Moments

(Supplied by the Wliakatnne Mimst eis’ Association!.

AN UNUSUAL CONVERSION

SIR WILLIAM DOBBBIE’S GRAND

FATHER

The British Officer whom tliLs •story concerns was stationed with his battalion in the province of Madras during extremely hot and oppressive weather. It being inadvisable for Europeans to lie out-of-doors during the day, there was a good deal of enforced idleness. At this time the news was passed round: “Hebich is coming ” and this became the main topic of conversation at the officers’ club. Who was this Hebicli? Samuel Hebielr was a missionary whose labours were greatly blessed in India amongst whites and natives alike. Realising, however, the great need of the “white heathen,” as lie termed

them, he spent much time visiting the garrison, and many British officers and soldiers were led to the Lord through his ministry. A few days passed. One day the officer in question, during the hottest part of the day, was lying in his room listlessly dreaming, when suddenly he heard footsteps outside, which came nearer and in walked— Mr Hebich! Yes. it must be he. y He was a tall, haggard-looking man, with a long loose hanging coat, a large hat and an umbrella. Indeed, he was a sight to make one laugh, but for the venerable face and the penetrating. look in bis eyes, which spoke of tenderness, kindness and sympathy. The officer felt embarrassed and ill at ease, even in his own rooms, but Mr Hebich, who seemed quite at home, asked the. officer politely to take a seat and, taking one himself, after a short silence, said: “Get that Book.” The officer knew at once which book he meant and I fetched the Bible, which he never read himself, although he possessed a copy.

“Open the book at the first chapter of Genesis and read the first two verses,” said Hebich.

The. officer obeyed and read like an attentive pupil: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form and void; and. darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” “That will do! Now close the Book and we will praysaid Ilebich. So they knelt down and Hebich prayed, the officer unable to keep two thoughts in their connection. After this Hebich bowed and said farewell, shaking hands very solemnly before leaving. The following da 3' the officer was lounging in his large' un.« occupied as the day before, blit feeling very 7 strange, in his heart raged a fierce battle-1 He shrank in fear from that 'which might still corac ( and yet bad a desire for something better and higher than lie had ever known. All at once there was the sound I of footsteps and Hebich appeared, j

OUR SUNDAY MESSAGE

The performance of the previous day was exactly repeated, the officer much embarrassed, Hebich apparently quite at ease. Again the offi-» ccr was asked to read tlie first two verses of Genesis. Again they knelt down and prayed together, but this time he listened to the prayer. Hebich talked as to an intimate friend, telling his God and Father all about the young officer imploring Him to reveal to him his need that he might find salvation and flee to the open arms of the Redeemer. Again he took leave in the same solemn and earnest manner as the day before.

The Bible 195' open on the table. He felt drawn to read for himself those wonderful verses which began to have such a power over him. Like a pupil who had been sent back to bis lesson, he sat down before the Bible and again read those verses till they burned into his very soul. He was “void” and “without form;” sin had made him so; and the “darkness” of indifference, and unbelief hid from his own view like a thick fog, his utter ruin, and God’s love, His heart and His face. “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”

Had this strange man brought him, by these words and his prayer, in touch with the living God ? Was this wonderful power which he felt coming over him perhaps the mov- 1 ing of the Spirit of God upon him ? If ever a man was bowed and humbled; if ever a heart was convinced of its sinfulness and corruption, as well as the need of redemption through the Lord and Saviour it was he. How lie spent tlie time till the next day lie did not know. All thoughts of the heat were put aside. It was the first pulse-beat of a new life, and dawning of a new sunrise in the soul.

The next day at the same hour he heard the footsteps again. His Bible lay open before him. He was waiting for his teacher. He rose to meet Hebich' and took his hand.

“Oh Mr Hebich ” he said, “it is all plain to me. now. What must I do?”

Looking at him with the pity of true he said: “My son we heal the God said: ‘Let there be light,’ ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved.’ ” He then pointed him to the Lord Jesus who bore his sins, on the Cross of then upward to tlx throne to Christy sitting glorified, at the right hand of God—his peace his .his righteousness. Finally they knelt for prayer j and for the first time in bis life the. young officer without a book, from the heart. He had found life and peace and thanked God for His great salvation —the gift of eternal life through Christ. A wonderful story of an unusual and remarkable conversion will be the verdict of those who read this. It has a peculiar interest for us toin that the British in question was the grandfather of Lieut.-General Sir William Dobbic whom we honour today.