As Christians, I am sure we are somewhat familiar with Moody Bible Institute. It is one of the leading evangelical biblical institutes in America and was founded in 1886 by Dwight L Moody. Many of the literary works published by this institute claim that D. L. Moody was perhaps the greatest evangelist of the 19th Century. As Christians, we have benefited greatly by his conversion and impact, probably in ways we may not even know.
One of his famous quotes, “Christians should live in the world, but not be filled with it. A ship lives in the water; but if the water gets into the ship, she goes to the bottom. So Christians may live in the world; but if the world gets into them, they sink.” This is such a great word picture.
In Moody’s own writings, he tells of his Sunday School teacher named Edward Kimball that had visited him at his work when he was 18 years old. Kimball had said that he was determined to get Moody saved and had been praying for him. At this visit, Kimball simply shared with Moody the love of God. It was that day that Moody’s life changed.
“I remember the morning on which I came out of my room after I had first trusted Christ. I thought the sun shone a good deal brighter than it ever had before. I thought that it was just smiling upon me, and as I walked out upon Boston Common and heard the birds singing in the trees, I thought they were all singing a song to me. Do you know? I fell in love with the birds. I had never cared for them before. It seemed to me that I was in love with all creation. I had not a bitter feeling against any man and I was ready to take all men to my heart. If a man has not the love of God shed abroad in his heart he has not yet been regenerated.” From Twice-Born Men: True Conversion Records of 100 Well-Known Men in All Ranks of Life compiled by Hy. Pickering. London: Pickering & Inglis, [193]
The Bible tells us that it is the love of God that brings us to repentance. (Romans 2:4). It is knowing the love God that will transform human souls.
Sharing the love of God is revolutionary, as we see with the profound impact this reality made on Dwight Moody. A world changer emerged when he was faced with the reality of God’s love. Let this be our intention. We too can have an impact on a world changer and may not even know it!
Rhonda Smart, [email protected]
