AP

What motivates a Christian to leave his home to travel to a distant country where he might face persecution or death? The simple answer to that question is the message and importance of the Gospel. If sinners do not hear the Gospel and believe it, they remain eternally lost. The fate of the impenitent must motivate Christians to active service to tell or at least help in getting the Gospel message across to sinners who have not heard.

The 18^th century missionary David Brainerd, who earnestly shared the Gospel to the Native Americans, once wrote in his diary: “I cared not how or where I lived, or what hardships I went through, so that I could but gain souls for Christ.”  Elsewhere, he wrote: “I care not where I go, or how I live, or what I endure so that I may save souls. When I sleep I dream of them; when I awake they are first in my thoughts – no amount of scholastic attainment, of able and profound exposition, of brilliant and stirring eloquence can atone for the absence of a deep impassioned sympathetic love for human souls.” We need more Brainerds in our day – Christians who have placed their spiritual ears so to speak to the entrance of Hell and heard the loud weeping of the lost inside.

We need more Spurgeons in the church. Spurgeon told his congregation: “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for”.

It was this realisation that motivated many missionaries to travel to China in the 19^th century. Hudson Taylor is probably one missionary that many Christians have heard of but there were many others. What motivated them to go forth? Hudson Taylor wrote:

“Shall not the eternal interests of one-third of our race stir up the deepest sympathies of our nature, the most strenuous efforts of our blood-bought powers? Shall not the low wail of helpless, hopeless misery, arising from half the heathen world, pierce our sluggish ear, and rouse us—body, soul, and spirit—to one mighty, continued, unconquerable effort for China’s salvation?”

It was that thought, that realisation that the Chinese were lost without Christ, that carried Taylor and many like him to distant China.

The first evangelical protestant missionary to China in the 19^th century was Robert Morrison, who is not widely known today. Morrison was a Scottish Presbyterian minister who understood the final destiny of the lost. Unlike some Christians of Presbyterian flavour Morrison was not a hyper Calvinist or a ‘frozen chosen’ type of Christian. To bring the Chinese to hear the Gospel of salvation, Christians would have to get out of their pew and tell of that Gospel.

Morrison understood both the power and sovereignty of God in bringing the lost to Himself through the preaching of His word. When Morrison was just about to embark for China a man asked him cynically: “And so, Mr. Morrison, do you really expect that you will make any spiritual impact on the idolatry of the great Chinese Empire?” “No sir,” Morrison replied, “but I expect God will.”

And Morrison was right. When Morrison arrived in China the country was largely closed to foreigners. Foreigners were largely, if not solely, confined to one small river island in the middle of Canton (now Guangzhou). They were not allowed to leave this small island and could only conduct trade. Foreigners were not permitted to learn Chinese, and Chinese were not allowed to mingle with foreigners. The penalty for breaking these laws was usually death. There were no dictionaries and therefore no translation of the Bible into Chinese. In this kind of environment how could Morrison ever learn Chinese or translate the Bible?

We should never doubt the power of God to overcome the strategies of Satan and the men he holds in his sway. Very quickly Morrison was able to employ Chinese men who under the cover of darkness were willing to help translate the word of God into Chinese. They were not believers, but they needed work even though they thought Morrison’s project was futile. Said one Chinese translator named Ako to Morrison: “Sir, why do you go on with the work of translation in the face of such dangers? If it should become known that you are a missionary in disguise, that you are learning the Chinese language and translating the Christian Scriptures, and if you should fall into the hands of the Chinese, you would certainly be killed according to the edicts and practices of our government. Do you not see that our land and the hearts of our people are utterly closed to you and your religion?”

“Yes,” replied Morrison; “but it is written, ‘Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?’ (Jer. 23:29). This Bible is the one thing that can burn gates of brass and penetrate walls of rock. I cannot preach to the people, but I can secretly translate and circulate this Book, with the confidence that its divine message will operate with divine power. Look, A-ko, at the verse we have just commenced to translate: ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest!’ (Matt. 11:28). When my own heart was as hard as stone and I was a slave to sin, this verse pierced my soul, struck off my shackles, and introduced me to Jesus. Thus, my life was changed completely. Does not this verse shine into your soul, A-ko, with the beauty of a priceless diamond? Does it not sing to your heart in tones of matchless music? As you read this verse, do you not hear a voice of infinite tenderness offering the fulfillment of that which you know to be your uttermost need?”

Morrison found the joy of baptising A-Ko some years later after the beautiful words of Christ melted his heart. He became the first fruit of the Chinese church. After his baptism, Morrison wrote “May he be the first-fruits of a great harvest – one of millions who shall come and be saved!”

– Troy Appleton