When I was in St. Louis some years ago, there was an old man who had
been away off on the mountains of an ungodly life, but in his early
manhood he had known Christ. He came into the inquiry-room, literally
broken down. About midnight that old man came trembling before God and
was saved. He wiped away his tears, and started home.
Next night I saw him in the audience with a terrible look in his face.
As soon as I finished preaching, I went to him and said:
"My good friend, you haven't gone back into darkness again?"
Said he: "Oh, Mr. Moody, it has been the most wretched day in my
life."
"Why so?"
"Well, this morning as soon as I got my breakfast, I started out. I
have a number of children, married, and in this city, and they have
families; and I have spent the day going around and telling them what
God has done for me. I told them how I had tasted salvation, with the
tears trickling down my face; and, Mr. Moody, I hadn't a child that
didn't mock me!"
That made me think of Lot down in Sodom. It is an awful thing for a
man who has been a backslider to have his children mock him. But it is
written: "Thy back-slidings shall reprove thee; know, therefore, and
see that it is an evil thing and bitter that thou hast forsaken the
Lord thy God."