Today I was cleaning out my closet and came across one of my old journals. I found an entry from January 1, 2007, and it touched my heart deeply when I read it. For His glory! (My journal entry simply says "Most influential writing to me in 2006"...)
Taken from It is not Death to Die, a new biography of Hudson Taylor by Jim Cromarty, pg 147-148. This happened on Hudson Taylor's way to Ningbo, China, in 1856:
"...before leaving they met Peter, a Chinese national who had travelled overseas, even visiting England. He had met the Parkers on his travels and was on his way to Ningbo to assist as a nurse. Hudson intended travelling by boat to Songjiang where he was going to preach, and as Peter indicated that he wanted to learn of Christ, they settled down to what they hoped would be an uneventful journey.
The first morning, when the boat was not far from the shore Peter accidentally fell overboard, head first. By the time Hudson reached the deck he had disappeared.
Hudson immediately lowered the sail and began a search by jumping into the muddy water. Seeing men trawling for fish with a net and hooks, he pleaded with them to come and assist in the search.
The reply was simply, 'Veh bin!' (It is not convenient!) No, they wouldn't come to save a life as it meant a break from fishing. Hudson offered them money if they would help and after much time spent bargaining, for the sum of fourteen dollars they slowly made their way to the general area where Peter had disappeared.
A minute after dragging the area his body was found. Despite the fact that Peter had been submerged for a long time Hudson performed resuscitation, but without success.
He later told this story many times, using it to illustrate the attitude of the ungodly to human life. He wrote: 'To myself this incident was profoundly sad and full of significance, suggesting a far more mournful reality. Were not those fishermen actually guilty of this poor Chinaman's death, in that they had the means of saving him at hand, if they would have but used them? Assuredly they were guilty. And yet, let us pause ere we pronounce judgment against them, lest a greater than Nathan answer, "You are the man." Is it so hardhearted, so wicked a thing to neglect to save the body? Of how much sorer punishment, then, is he worthy who leaves the soul to perish, and Cain-like says, "Am I my brother's keeper?" The Lord Jesus commands, commands me, commands you, [go] into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Shall we say to Him, "No, it is not convenient"? Shall we tell Him that we are busy fishing and cannot go?... Before long, "we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body." Let us remember, let us pray for, let us labour for the unevangelized Chinese.'
Hudson returned to Shanghai, and after much trouble left Peter's body with his mother and sister - and the money to meet the cost of his funeral."
Let us remember, let us pray for, let us labor for the unevangelized around the world.