Cork Free Presbyterian Church, 10 Briarscourt
(Annex) Shanakiel, Cork, Ireland
Pastor: Colin Maxwell. Email: colin.maxwell@fpcmission.org
HE TOOK THE VERY SHOES FROM THE CORPSE OF HIS LITTLE GIRL AND SOLD THEM FOR DRINK
MEL TROTTER TELLS HIS AMAZING STORY
From the time I began going to school, it was easy for me to make
friends. This caught the eyes of some who began to groom me with
political ambitions in mind. Soon, what had started as rather innocent
affairs, began to turn into social events including the social drink
and all that goes with it. It wasn't long before the social drink was
not reserved for special occasions, but became a morning, noon and
night experience. The virtues I had been noted for began to disappear
as steam does when it hits cold air. My ambitious political friends
left first. They couldn't have faith in a young lush - even if they had
been the ones who started me drinking. It wasn't long before until even
the children began to avoid me because I was anything but friendly when
I would weave back from the saloon. I went from one job to another and
from one place to live to another, and each time both the job and
apartment became less desirable.
One
day found me in Chicago living in a rat infested cellar apartment in
the worst section in the city. Why my wife and little child stayed with
me only God knows, for the pain and suffering I caused them cannot be
described.
SERIOUSLY ILL
One
day our little child was taken seriously ill. A faithful doctor came
even though he knew there would be no payment for his call. After
diagnosing the case, he reached into his own pocket, took out some
money and thrust it into my hands, shouting, "Mel, run, don't walk, to
the drug store which is two blocks from here - here's the prescription.
Come right back. It might even now be too late - so hurry!"
I
climbed the stairs and was out on to the pavement. I looked to my left
and sure enough I saw a drug store about two blocks away, but then I
looked to my right and saw that the saloon was only one half block
away. A sudden desire came over me - one that drove all thought of my
sick child out of my head. Even the fact that the money in my hand did
not belong to me was erased as I blindly rushed to the bar and shouted,
"Let's all drink - it's on me!" Soon the doctor's money was gone and
then some other fool threw his money on the bar and we continued on and
on through the day and into the night. When it was time to close I was
so far gone that the saloon keeper just threw me into the back room to
"sleep it off." When he came back the next day, I was still there and
it wasn't until the night began to approach that I came enough to my
senses to decide to go home.
RICKETY STAIRS
When
I arrived back, I slowly descended the rickety stairs. I saw that
someone was talking very quietly to my wife and they were crying. I
still did not know why and was still too far gone to have understood.
There had been no furniture before, but now there was a little box on a
stand. I wondered what it could be. As I went over and looked into the
box I saw that it was the body of my little child, but looking very
different. Someone had put on her clean clothes, new clothes and
somehow there was even a pair of brand new little shoes. Still I didn't
get the message. As I stood there that urge came over me. I craved
another drink. What I wouldn't do for another drink!
My
dear friends - as I think back on this next part my heart feels as if
it were ripped out - for I am so ashamed. As the urge overwhelmed me, I
hurriedly slipped the new sloes from the cold feet of my precious
child, rammed them into my pocket - as yet I had not attracted the
attention of my wife and the woman with her - I stole out of the
apartment and I sold those little shoes for a few pennies and bought
another drink. I had gone down so low that I have often said that I had
to reach up to touch bottom.
END IT ALL
With
all of this, I was not awakened to reality, until one day, after some
debauchery, I decided to end it all. With me gone, I reasoned that the
world would be a lot better off, especially my wife. With this in mind,
I headed for Lake Michigan to drown myself. It had gotten dark and cold
and, as I wove down a street that would take me to the lake, I was
suddenly given a push by someone who said: "Why don't you go in there
Bud? It's nice and warm."
JESUS CHRIST IS ABLE TO SAVE YOU
As
I went through the open door, someone set me in a chair. It all
happened so quickly that it took my muddled brain a little while to
realise that I was in a room filled with men and a man was speaking. He
was talking as if he knew all about me as he said: "Perhaps you have
come in here tonight and you haven't even planned it - in fact you had
decided that you're going to end it all - for you feel that no one
understands you, no one cares, and there is no hope. My friend, I'm
here to tell you there is someone who understands you, there is someone
who cares for you, and I can tell you that there is hope for you. You
will find all of your answers when you come to Jesus Christ and receive
Him as your personal Saviour. He not only wants to save you from your
mess, but wants to go with you the rest of your life, to keep you from
getting into any more trouble. "
The
speaker was Harry Monroe and the place was the Pacific Garden Mission.
I became a different person that night. God saved me and made me a new
man. My wife got a new husband - the part with its sin and stain was
washed away and I found a brand new tomorrow.
************
Mel
Trotter went on to become a preacher of the same message that saved his
soul and changed his life - the message that JESUS CHRIST ALONE SAVES.
He saw many hundreds come to put their trust in the only One who has
the remedy for broken hearts, and broken homes…broken by sin.
His
story is reprinted here so that you might know that no matter how
hopeless you might feel your case to be, there is One who knows all
about you and understands your deepest need. That need is to have your
sins forgiven and your life turned over to Jesus Christ. Won't you bow
your head now and ask Christ to save you? He saved Mel Trotter to the
uttermost (Hebrews 7:25) and He is well able to save you.
JESUS CHRIST: MIGHTY TO SAVE (ISAIAH 63:1)