THE SHADOW DEEPENS
So far reference has only been made to the trials connected with the
illness and death of two in the family circle. But another storm was
already pending, and a great dark cloud was yet to break over the heads
of these two devoted servants of God. Did the Lord not have compassion
on them, or had He ceased to care? Why did they not prosper in
everything as before? Had the Lord changed in His love for them, or
had He forgotten to be gracious? They did not think so, neither did
they murmur. They were ready to take what He sent, and could say with
Job, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him." They knew they
could trust Him; and their faith was kept firm and bright, and the
presence of their Heavenly Guide grew more precious as He led them
through the valley of shadows.
Mr. Lü had not been strong for years, and every now and again,
specially during the winter and spring, he had a bad cough, with some
slight haemorrhage. As he got better as soon as the warm weather set
in, they had not considered the attacks dangerous, and Mr. Lü would
work as hard as ever, often doing night work by the dim light from the
Chinese oil-lamp. On Saturday they would all come to the prayer
meeting, and then go back home and work till long after their regular
bedtime, so that they might be free for the Sunday. Mr. Lü was a very
hard worker, and never spared himself.
In the beginning of 1905 he took a more severe cold than before; his
cough became very troublesome, and he was constantly spitting blood.
He believed everything was owing to the exceptionally cold winter we
were experiencing, and hoped to be better as soon as the spring set in.
But before spring came, he gave every evidence of serious consumption.
Knowing that he had been ailing for years, it was hoped that he might
possibly improve again, and perhaps live on for some time. He was
therefore invited to come to the city Mission Station for a while, so
that he might get proper medicine and better nourishment than he could
have in his own home. As soon as his strength allowed him to take the
journey, he came and stayed with us for a month. During that time all
was done that love could do. At the end of the month he felt better
and seemed stronger, but soon after his return home he began to get
worse again, and his cough grew more violent. Soon it was evident to
all that there was no hope of his recovery, but he and his wife were
the only ones who remained calm about it. Many doctors came to ask if
they could do anything for him; some out of kindness, others to enrich
their own pockets. But Mr. Lü only replied, "No, you are not able to
do anything for me. I am going Home. The Lord is calling me."
His wife was blamed by everybody for "letting him die," as they put it.
"Why don't you try to save him? The Taoist priests would restore him
to health. Why do you not call them?"
"Because," she replied, "what you and the priests trust in, is all
false and powerless. Life and death are alike in the hand of God, and
He will do what is best."
The people shook their heads at her obstinacy; others declaring it
served her right. Her husband's death would be at her door, for had
she not angered the idols in leaving them? Mrs. Lü heeded them not,
for her heart was fixed. The Rock upon which she had built was the
Rock of Ages, and upon it she stood secure, firm and unshaken in the
time of trial. She knew whom she had believed, had proved His
faithfulness, and that He would remain though all else were taken from
her.
Mr. Lü, though glad for his own sake to go to the Home above, would at
times feel sorry for his much-loved wife and son, and would express his
regret at leaving them while the boy was still so young. But Mrs. Lü,
instead of complaining or murmuring against her fate, as others would
have done, gently encouraged her husband in the Lord, saying, "Never
mind about us. You just prepare yourself to meet your God. We have
Him, and He will take care of us. Do not worry." With words like
these she would comfort his heart, although her own was bleeding. But
she knew where to take her sorrow, and every day, and many times a day,
she fled to her safe and happy refuge.
When Mr. Lü was staying in the city and she was left alone, her heart
often went out in longing after him, and she was wondering anxiously
how he was. She felt lonely without him, and, try as hard as she might
be to cheerful, sad thoughts would come. Just then one of the
evangelists went to Kucheng to take the Sunday services. He was led to
speak on John xiv. 1--"Let not your heart be troubled, ye believe in
God, believe also in Me." That was the message Mrs. Lü needed. She
felt comforted, and, after the meeting, she started to read the whole
chapter. What treasures it revealed, and how precious it became to
her. She heard, while reading it over and over again, the voice of Him
who first spoke these words to His beloved disciples, and that voice
had lost none of its former power. Eagerly and joyfully she drank in
the beautiful words and precious promises, spoken to those other sad
ones when the loving Master was about to leave them, and in her quiet
room her heart was filled with "the peace that passeth all
understanding." Needless to say, John xiv. became her favourite
chapter henceforth.
When the writer went to see Mr. Lü for the last time, we arrived late
one Friday night. He sat up joyfully when he heard our voice, and
greeted us with the words--"Our next meeting-place will be in Heaven."
It did not need more than one look at the wasted form to realize that
for him, at least, that happy place would soon be reached. It was with
a sad and husky voice we replied, "Yes, Mr. Lü, it will be with our
Lord in Glory." The native evangelist who had accompanied us now
entered the room, and after some talk we had prayer together. Although
our hearts ached and the tears could not be kept back, we were filled
with praise to God for His saving grace, for the hope of glory, and for
the eternal inheritance laid up in heaven. Oh, how near Heaven seemed!
Christ was in our midst, and the humble room seemed hallowed by His
presence. Having commended our brother to our Father's tender care, we
separated for the night.
The following day he was much the same. In the evening the prayer
meeting was held in his house, as we had a message from the Lord we
wanted to deliver to him and his wife. He insisted on being helped out
into the public room, and remained there while the meeting lasted,
which was consequently shortened. It was a blessed hour we spent
together in communion with the Lord, and in hearing His voice speaking
through Psalm xxiii.
The following day, Sunday, the meetings were held in the chapel, so Mr.
Lü could not be present. But he was present in spirit, and during the
prayer meeting his heart was lifted up to God in his lonely chamber.
In the evening the little praise meeting was held at their home, and we
shall never forget the picture that met our eyes as we entered. Mr. Lü
was lying on a low couch, his wife sitting close beside him, holding
his hand. Their little son was sitting close to both of them at the
end of the bed, leaning against his mother, and gently stroking his
father's feet. It was the most touching and home-like thing we had
ever seen in family life in China. But, if the shadows rested over
that united and loving home, the Sun of Righteousness was shining also.
Everybody seemed to choose bright hymns about the Heavenly Home and the
coming again of our Lord in glory. Mr. Lü was lying there with a happy
smile on his face, and the last hymn he asked for was "Oh, thou my
soul, bless God the Lord." As we sang our praise to God our souls were
lifted above the sufferings and trials of this life, and seemed to
realize already something of the glory which was to be revealed. One
of our fellow-workers had sent a card for Mr. and Mrs. Lü with Romans
viii. 28 on it, and as we read it, it seemed as if we already saw
beyond the veil, beyond the "workings" to the blessed result--"The joy
unspeakable and full of glory." Mrs. Lü said after a while, "The
longer I sing, the happier I get. My sorrow has quite departed, and is
no more." Oh, how little does the world know what real joy means!
What are all the pleasures this world can offer, yea, even the choicest
ones, compared to one hour's real joy in fellowship and communion with
Him who is the Fount of every Blessing, and in whose presence there is
fulness of joy? Would that the poor souls hungering for rest and
happiness, dissatisfied with the worldly pleasures, tired of their
empty show, might turn to Him who is the source of all true and lasting
joy. How abundantly they would be satisfied with the fatness of His
house, for He would make them drink of the rivers of His pleasure. How
much richer their lives would be already here, to say nothing of the
life hereafter.
Take the world, but give me Jesus,
Other joys are but a name,
But His love abideth ever,
To eternal years the same.
Oh, the height and depth of mercy,
Oh, the length and breadth of love,
Oh, the fulness of salvation,
Pledge of endless life above.