Early in the American sale of the life of the Saviour, “The Desire of Ages,” a lady in Massachusetts purchased a copy. For ten years it lay unread on the shelf. Then, in a time of spiritual discouragement, she picked it up. She wrote to the author: SPIAM 43.4
“As soon as I began to read it, I felt as never before how real it was. Where before it had seemed like ancient history, it now seemed as if it were today that it all happened. Peace came to my troubled soul, and my eyes were opened to God’s mercies as never before. I see in Him a living personal Saviour who is with me all the time. I have consecrated my life to His service.” SPIAM 43.5
As the scenes of that life on earth were made real to the author by the Spirit, the story was made very real for the reader. It is an illustration of the special helpfulness of this gift in the opening of Bible themes. SPIAM 43.6