Adoniram Judson (1788–1850) was   gifted with a brilliant mind. He learned to read at 3 years old, could translate Greek at 12 and enrolled at university when he was 16. While there he was befriended by Jacob Eames, a man who rejected the miracles of the Bible. When Judson graduated in 1807 he had been so influenced by Eames that he denied his Christian faith.

One night, when Judson was staying at a village inn, he was disturbed by a man moaning in the next room. The following morning he asked the landlord about the ailing man. He was told that the man had died and that his name was Jacob Eames.

The startling coincidence of being near his friend at the point of his death stunned Judson. He felt compelled to search his own soul and to seek God’s pardon for denying his faith. From that point on he began to live for the Lord. God led him to start missionary work in Burma. At the end of his life Adoniram could look back on a ministry that had planted dozens of churches and influenced thousands to become believers.

What kind of influence are we having on others? Do our lives encourage faith in the Saviour, or do we cause others to doubt?

Author

Dennis Fisher

Topics

Our Daily Bread