A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good that is! (Prov 15:23)
How important our words are. As believers, we all know the value of having “a word spoken in season”. A word of encouragement given by a discerning friend, that speaks right into our present situation. ‘How good that is’ indeed, as Proverbs reminds us (15:23). Or it may be a word of caution, or of warning, or of correction.
Peter instructs us to “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Pet 3:15). Our words spoken in this context can be similarly helpful, and potentially life-changing to the earnest enquirer.
A tireless preacher
I came across a powerful little story that potently reveals the power of a word spoken in season. The incident in question took place on this very day (May 13th, date of PT publication) almost two hundred years ago. A short true-life testimony to inspire the heart.
Fifteen-year-old David Marks, eyes blurred with tears, left home with a dollar in his pocket to preach the gospel. The “boy preacher” soon created a stir in the American northeast, and he kept going for the next 25 years. He rode one horse 19,000 miles, preached to thousands, organized churches throughout New England, published books, wrote articles, taught school, and worked diligently in opposition to slavery and in support of foreign missions. Then he died from sheer exhaustion at age 40.
Out of nothing
Just before sunset on May 13, 1828, Marks rode into the little town of Ancaster, Ontario, announcing he would preach in seven minutes in the park. A small crowd gathered, and he asked if anyone had a text he would like to hear preached. A man mockingly said, “Nothing!”
Marks immediately began preaching on “nothing.” God created the world from “nothing,” he said. God gave us laws in which there is “nothing” unjust. But, Marks continued, we have broken God’s law and there is “nothing” in us to justify us. There will be “nothing” to comfort sinners in death or hell. But, while Christians have “nothing” of their own in which to boast, we have Christ. And in him, we have “nothing” to cause us grief, “nothing” to disturb our peace, and “nothing” to fear in eternity.
Finishing his sermon, Marks mounted his horse and travelled to the next village. But some time later he returned to Ancaster. This time a larger group assembled, and the meeting house was opened to him. David preached “something” to them.
He said there is “something” above all things. There is “something” in man designed to live forever, but there is also “something” in us that makes us unhappy. There is “something” about the gospel that reverses our unhappiness, “something” that gives us hope. There is “something” that will disturb the impenitent in death, but “something” resides in Christians that the world can’t understand, and “something” in eternity to give us everlasting joy.
All that from an uneducated young circuit rider, his mind filled with Scripture and his heart full of Christ, who had “something” to say—and “nothing” to fear.
Notes
1Adapted, from Robert J. Morgan, On This Day: 365 Amazing and Inspiring Stories About Saints, Martyrs & Heroes’, 1997.