In the village of Abashiri, Japan, lived an earnest Christian man. He had an orchard of one thousand trees, and upon these depended the livelihood of himself, and his family. One morning, great was his dismay to find that his apples, which were then half grown, were being destroyed by a peculiar worm. As he walked through the orchard he observed that every tree was affected. What was he to do? He called his family together there in the orchard and they called upon God. Works were added to faith, and all through the day and until late at night, they worked, picking off the worms and destroying them; but with the pests multiplying by the thousands, it became evident that all their efforts were in vain. In desperation they turned to God for help. Weary with the long strain they lay down on their straw mats for a little sleep. Returning the next morning to their orchards to begin another strenuous day, they were startled to see hundreds of strange birds alighting in the trees. All day long the birds stayed, eating up the worms, but never injuring the trees or the leaves. This kept up for three days in succession. In the evening of the third day, as the family walked through the orchard, they found that it was entirely free of the pest. God had vindicated the faith of his children. -- The Revivalist

 

From: 2700-PLUS SERMON ILLUSTRATIONS By Duane V. Maxey

 

 

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