Evangelist
T. T. Martin (AD 1862-1939) was a professor, pastor, evangelist. Born in Mississippi, he was a graduate of Mississippi
College and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He entered full-time evangelism in 1900 and
was known for his effectiveness in bringing conviction and pointing men to the
Savior. He often used large tents for
his revival meetings. He was also known
for his opposition to evolution. Thomas Theodore Martin was buried in Gloster, Mississippi and his grave has
references to the three texts he viewed as the core of his ministry: John 3:16;
Acts 16:31; John 5:24.
In
his 1912 sermon, Rewards – Degrees in
Heaven, Evangelist Martin told the story:
A
rich banker in the West a few weeks before Christmas sent a check for three
hundred and fifty dollars to his brother in the East, a poor country preacher,
telling him to come and bring all of his family and spend Christmas with
him. They had not seen each other since
boyhood.
The
preacher and family arrived Christmas eve morning. That afternoon in carriages the two families
drove over the banker’s beautiful farm of a thousand acres of rich land. Coming in late in the afternoon, they came by
the pasture and saw the beautiful herd of blooded cattle. After a sumptuous supper the banker’s
daughters gave them some splendid music and the two families went upstairs to
sleep.
The
two white-haired brothers, the banker and the poor country preacher remained
downstairs, and for hours talked of boyhood days in the old country home in the
East. At last the conversation, like the
fire in the fireplace, had about died out.
Finally
the banker turned and said, “Brother John, may I say something to you and you
not get angry?” Said the preacher, “Why,
brother James, you can say anything you wish to me and I will not get angry.”
Said
the banker, “Brother John, you and I were poor boys back in the old country home
in the East and we agreed to be partners for life. One day you came to me and told me that you
were called to preach. I told you then
that you were a fool. What a fool you
have been! Do you remember that rich
farm of a thousand acres you saw this afternoon? Paid for with honest money, John. This comfortable home for my old age, paid
for with honest money, John. The fifty
thousand dollars I have in the bank in the city where I am president of the
bank, every dollar of it honest money, John.
“John,
you could have had as much as I have. What
a fool you have been! Why, I had to send
you the three hundred and fifty dollars to bring you and your family that I might
see them before I die. And look at your
daughters; they are dressed in such a shabby way that I am ashamed for my
neighbors to see my children’s cousins. And
look at you with your old seedy, worn suit and your patched shoes; I am ashamed
to take you to town day after tomorrow and introduce you to my business
associates.
What
a fool you have been! Now, John, I am not
saying this to wound your feelings; for I love you, John. But I don’t want you to let any of your boys
be such fools as you have been. You know
you have been a fool, John.”
Then
there was silence for some time. The tears
were trickling down the cheeks of the old country preacher.
At
last he broke the silence, “Brother James, may I say something to you and you
not get angry?” “Why, certainly, John, I
did not say what I did you make you angry, but to keep you from letting any of
your boys be such fools as you have been, for you know you have been a fool,
John.”
“I
know,” replied the old preacher, “that it looks like I have been a fool from
this end of the line, brother James.
But, brother James, we are both old men and we must soon go. Don’t be angry with me, brother James, but
what have you got up yonder?”
Again
there was silence, which was suddenly broken by the banker sobbing, “Oh, John,
I am a pauper at the judgment bar of God.”
“So
is he that layeth up treasures for himself and is not rich toward God.” They are dying all over the world, men who
are redeemed, going to Heaven, but paupers.
-Evangelist T. T. Martin, God’s Plan With Men; 1912. Reprinted by Loizeaux Brothers, New York; c.
1950 (no date given).
This
Loizeaux Brothers book is from my dad’s, Joe E. Brumbelow’s, library. As a boy, I remember him using this
illustration in his preaching. And, I
believe my dad’s life was another example of a preacher of the gospel laying up
treasure in Heaven.
There
is nothing wrong with being rich, if you can do so while honoring God. But, whether rich or poor, have you been
laying up treasure in Heaven?
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor,
September 14, AD 2016.
Articles:
Other
Articles in lower right margin.
