In 1949, Evangelist Duncan Campbell experienced a great revival in Lewis, an island off the coast of Scotland. Campbell gave many accounts and stories of this revival.
A certain farmer, Donald McLeod, who was apathetic to spiritual things and had not been to church for twelve years, told Campbell that he might come out sometime to one of the meetings. He did so, and because it was so crowded, McLeod had to sit on the steps of the pulpit, next to where Campbell was preaching. Donald was in such conviction of his sin. Many could hear his prayer, “God, Hell is too good for me, Hell is too good for me.” The farmer left the church in great distress of soul. That night, Campbell came to the farmhouse and found people in every room of the house praying for the farmer. Campbell found him in a room and heard him praying, “God, can you have mercy on me? God, can you have mercy on me?” McLeod, not receiving relief that night, called for a prayer meeting for the next evening. On the following morning, he trusted Christ for salvation.
While telling the story, Campbell exclaimed, “Oh that we could see conviction. There is one thing that I’ve been crying for at this conference, ‘the conviction of sin.’ And to see men and women prostrate in the presence of God.” It’s common to hear sinners express not being deserving of heaven. However, this farmer is the first I have heard expressing not deserving even of Hell. We do not know his sin, but we do know of his great conviction of his sin.
If we ever have the opportunity to witness, always show them their sin through the Scripture. There are great verses such as Romans 3:10, 23. If an individual hears the Gospel, without knowledge of their own sin, they will not know their need of a Savior. Salvation is having our sins forgiven. Some may not even feel repentant of their actions. Reveal their sin in God’s Word and pray for conviction. We do not do the saving, but we do the telling. Never leave out sin when sharing the Gospel. Oh that we could see great conviction of sin.
(By Matt Shold)
