By Mary Vee
Year: April 1874
Hudson Taylor: age 42
From J. Hudson Taylor's Notes
One day as I returned to my boat, an old Chinese man followed me. I'm not sure where he came from, he simply followed me to my boat. "Would you like to come with me?" I asked him.
"Yes. My name is Dzing. I have a question."
He must have been in the crowd at the last place I spoke. He seemed quite burdened by his question. "How may I help you?"
"I don't understand. What am I to do with my sins? The scholars say there isn't any future place where we go after this life. I find this difficult to believe."
I shook my head. "Don't believe any such words. There is an endless future for all of us. Either burned in hell for ever or rejoicing in heavenly bliss forever."
"But, what can I do. What am I to do with my sins? Some say we should only eat vegetables. Should I have a vegetarian or a mixed diet?"
I realized the man had never truly heard of the name of Jesus Christ or the simple gift of salvation. "It doesn't matter whether you eat a vegetarian or mixed diet. You can have either. Both of the diets affect the stomach, not your heart."
"This is what I thought. Eating one way or another would not affect sins. I try so hard to think of what I can do about my sins and fail to come up an answer. I am seventy-two years old and won't live another decade. I don't know how long I will live. So I must know. Can you tell me what is to be done about my sins?"
I nodded. "Yes, I am happy to. I have come thousands of miles to tell anyone who wants to know. Listen and I will explain what you want to know." I told him of the living, loving God and of His fatherly love and care for all people.
Dzing listened intently. "And what are we to do to pay back such a favor, God's goodness? I don't see how it can be repaid. One scholar told us to worship Heaven and Earth and the idols at the end of the year. This would be enough. But it doesn't satisfy me."
"True." I nodded. "And there is so much more we need to give thanks for." I told him of the the consequences of sin, of God's pity, the coming of Jesus Christ and his death as payment for our sins. Jesus paid for our sins so we could be with God."
"I see. And how can we to pay for such grace?" Dzing asked.
"We don't," I answered. "There is nothing for us to do but to receive what Jesus did for us as a free gift from God, just like we do the sunlight, wind, and rain."
"I have sinned a great deal. I've worshipped idols. I didn't know this was a sin against the living God."
A few other missionaries joined us by this time. We continued to speak with Dzing until he had no more questions. When the old man left, he still seemed bewildered, but comforted. I was confident we'd have many more conversations.
What a blessed joy to have this man come and ask his questions. Do you have any?
Please pray that God will give us the right words to say and put us in the right place to help others like Mr. Dzing. Praise God for His blessings.
J. Hudson Taylor
Missionary to China--Inland China!
So Very Blessed by God
Research resources: J. Hudson Taylor, An Autobiography by J. Hudson Taylor; It is Not Death to Die, a new biography of Hudson Taylor by Jim Cromarty; Hudson Taylor Founder, China Inland Mission by Vance Christie; J. Hudson Taylor, A Man in Christ, by Roger Steer, and Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret by Dr.and Mrs. Howard Taylor
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