Reading the Audio Biography of John G. Paton Missionary to the New Hebrides islands in the South pacific. The missionary has been persecuted beyond human strength and has lost his wife and 20 day old son to sickness that he buried by himself without any other person to comfort him. He builds a small home, and the savages burn it down and he must run for his life on a small Island. Far from his native home of Scotland he climes a tree to hide from those who are seeking his life for preaching the gospel. Muckets can be heard being shot in the jungle as he leans back in that tree to see the moon in full brightness. It is at this time the dear Lord Jesus comforts the missionary who believes he will not live through the night. John G. Paton would say later that the peace he received in that tree that night was so wonderful that he has often in tears wished he could go back to feel the close presence of the Lord that he did that night.
John G. Paton would live and through many toils and snares win those savages to Christ on those islands for the glory of Christ. A marker can be found there on the Island of Tanna that reads; “When John G. Paton came there were no Christians, when he left there were no savages.” C. H. Spurgeon would have him speak at his church in London and introduced him as the “King of the Cannibals.”
It is often in our darkest times that God makes His presence known most clearly. He uses our sufferings and troubles to show us that He is our only source of strength. And when we see this truth, like John G. Paton, we receive new hope. Are you facing a great trial? Take heart. Put yourself in God’s hands. Wait for His timing. He will give you a peace in the night!
Pastor Mark