Lesson 139: "The Ways of the Ancient of Time”

Kentucky Chaplain David Chaltas -- See Photos of this event below

He heard the river calling him from across the ocean. He knew what he had to do but as a boy of fifteen years he had no idea of how to do it. He believed. And that was enough to sustain his desire.

Last year while surfing the web this lad from down under happened upon the website that hosted a baptism in the North Fork of the Holston River. He looked at the mountains of Saltville, Virginia, and read of its history. He saw the pure majesty of the land and something drew him to that bank. Still, he was 17,000 miles away living in Victoria, Australia. 

The parson was waiting. All through the church service by the river, he waited as he preached. He talked of the Ancient of Time and how His ways were mysterious. On occasion he would look up to see if the young man had arrived but nothing. The congregation of sixty was anxious also, for they too were aware that a young man from down under was supposed to fly across the ocean to be baptized in the waters of the North Fork of the Holston River. But the waters remained calm and slow flowing without a human foot breaching its shores.

The service ended and all went away satisfied but each in the back of their minds wondering did the young man change his mind, was his flight late, or did he decide to not come to Saltville, Virginia. The programs for the day continued and approximately 1 o’clock, General Lee was about to speak. Just as the skit of a trial and execution was ending and the old general was taking center stage to a large crowd waiting, Captain Hunt sent word that the boy and his family had arrived! Remembering the words of General Lee regarding his desire that if all his students could be saved, that he would be content, the man representing Lee offered a brief statement about the young man from Australia’s desire to be baptized in the refreshing waters of the North Fork and invited the crowd to come witness a young man take off the old coat and put on the new. The whole crowd silently got up and walked down to the riverside.

Parson James had already talked to the young man and he had given his profession of faith with a gleaming smile that reviewed his peaceful spirit in the Lord. Gary Walker walked to the riverside and joined Andy McGinnis and the Kentucky Division Chaplain that had only a few minutes ago been in the persona of General Robert E. Lee. The parson brought two pistols, talked of the great saga of Resurrection Morn, and laid the pistols down, representing the blue and gray ceasing their hostilities for a baptism. After the singing of Shall We Gather at the River, the young man was invited into the water, as the Kentucky Chaplain spoke of this day being the day of salvation. As the young man stepped into waist deep water, this fielder glanced upon the crowd and noted the intense attention of the spectators at the site before them. The look of serenity upon the young man’s face and the ecstasy expressed in his eyes, brought tears of joy to this unworthy fielder’s face. For I was witnessing a rebirth of a person that, more than likely, I will never see again upon this plain.

On one side of young Oliver were Andy and Gary. The other was Parson James and the Kentucky Chaplain. The fifth person in the water radiated with joy as he burst through the portal of sin and became a new person. When he immersed from the cleansing waters, the crowd clapped and shouted their approval and praise to God. Upon reaching the shore, the song, Going Home was sung and everyone congratulated the young man.

All were blessed. All were touched. All took something special away from the riverside. Several people wanted to talk to the parsons, as the seed of salvation was planted in the hearts of so many simply by the Ancient of Times. The reenactors and sutlers shared their sheer wonder in the old time river baptism. It was such a blessing to so many that otherwise would not have been privy to such a special moment.

The realization came as this fielder drove home. Seeing the Mystery of His ways, as he used a three-hour delay for the greater purpose of reaching more people. If the family had been there at 10 o’clock, the crowd would have been small to witness the baptism. But by offering it at 1:00 P. M., the crowd flooded the banks of the river and the seeds were planted. All the time, He had it planned and we could not see it. How great is our God’s wisdom. Mere mortals will never fathom His mysterious ways. There are times when His ways demonstrate to us that we must be still and allow God to do what we cannot. I Remain Your Silenced Servant, The Old General