The Conversion Story of Luke Short

In the middle of the seventeenth century John Flavel began his ministry in the thriving sea port of Dartmouth in England. This town was to be the scene of his labours for most of his life, until his death in 1691 at the age of sixty-four. The spiritual good of the people of the town was very much on his heart. One of the many prayers he often made for Dartmouth was, “O that there were not a prayerless family in this town.” One day Mr Flavel preached to his congregation from 1 Corinthians 16:22 “If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord come!” The sermon was particularly solemn. Pastor Flavel said that he usually sought to present to them the beauty and excellence of Christ that they might be drawn to love Him. He rejoiced that many of his hearers had been moved to put their trust in Christ. But he was alarmed that others had long resisted the Word of God and not bowed the knee to the Lord Jesus Christ. So now he was solemnly warning his hearers about the seriousness of not coming to love the Saviour. At the end of the sermon Mr Flavel paused before he closed the meeting and said, “How shall I bless this whole assembly, when every person in it who loves not the Lord Jesus is accursed?” This message deeply affected many of the hearers.

In the congregation that day was a boy named Luke Short, then about fifteen years old, who had lived in Dartmouth all his life. Shortly after this, Luke went to sea, sailed to America and eventually settled there for the rest of his life.

Mr Short lived a long and active life. At the age of one hundred he was still fit enough to work on his farm and his mind was alert and active. He had lived his whole life in carelessness and sin. Now here he was, a sinner one hundred years old and ready to die under God’s judgment.

But God yet had a gracious purpose in Luke Short’s life. One day, as he sat in his field thinking of his past life, he suddenly remembered the sermon that Pastor Flavel had preached eighty five years earlier in Dartmouth. He could still remember a considerable part of the message. Mr Flavel’s earnestness, the truths spoken, and the effect on the congregation, all came freshly and powerfully to his mind. He realised that he had not loved the Lord Jesus, he feared the judgment of God, and he was deeply convicted of his sin. Luke Short was converted on the spot at the age of one hundred!

“God’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save”, Isaiah 59:1. Here He graciously saves a sin-hardened old man and wonderfully brings him into His Kingdom.

In the providence of God Luke Short lived to his one hundred and sixteenth year and gave much evidence of being truly born again.

- - END - -

Previous page | Back to Top