IT was a lovely place at which we arrived in Switzerland, after a hot and dusty journey, and the hotel where we were to stay was prettily situated in a valley between snow-capped mountains. On the lawn in front underneath some shady tree, was a little boy of about five years old, happily amusing himself with a swing. We soon became very good friends. Charlie would climb the trees to pick cherries for me, and had many winning little ways. He could not read very well, but he would bring a book to me every day, full of stories about shipwrecks and adventures of various kinds, and ask me to read to him.
One Sunday he brought his book as usual, begging to have two stories read instead of one, as he had more time. When he was seated, I told him that I could not read that book on Sunday, because it was the Lord's day, when those who love the Lord Jesus liked to read and think of Him, and that on this day He rose from the dead.
Not wishing to disappoint him I found a book about a little boy who believed in Jesus; and this I read.
But when I came to a part which told of the love of Christ, Charlie stopped me and said, “Don’t read any more of that, please; I don't want to hear about Jesus, it's so dry!" And then he ran away.
Poor little Charlie! He had no kind mother to tell him of Jesus. She was dead, and his father was far away. So he lived with his grandmother and aunt, who I fear did not know the Lord, and thought Sunday a very wearisome day. The very little Charlie did hear about Jesus was evidently uninteresting to him.
He did not bring his book to me any more; I suppose he was afraid I should talk to him.
Do you remember a verse in Isa. 53, which says, “All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way"?
What was Charlie's own way? It was the way Adam and Eve went, when they listened to the voice of the serpent, and ate of the forbidden fruit; and having done that which made them sinners, they were afraid to meet God, and went and hid themselves.
We cannot love to hear about God, or to be near Him, while we are in our sins. He is so pure, so holy, so just, that we must first have our sins washed away in the precious blood of Christ. Then we become new creatures, and have a heart to love Him who has loved us so much.
And now think for a moment, what is your own way? Oh, I am sure that it must be a bad way, unless you are one of the happy children who have come to the good Shepherd, who says "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." He calleth his own sheep by name and leadeth them out."
Do you not think that those who have believed in Jesus must love Him very much, for the great love He has shown in dying for them; and if He come soon to take them up to His home in heaven, should you not like to be there to worship and adore Him?
I will tell you a story of a little girl, who I think had her sins forgiven.
Lisette was only six years old, and she was at school. Her teacher assembled the girls together every morning to read the Bible. One day she asked them this question: “What is the Lord Jesus doing in heaven now?”
I did not hear what the other children said, I only know Lisette's answer. It was this: “He is showing His wounds to God, who has saved us because of Him.”
You see Lisette knew that Jesus had saved her. How did she know that her sins were washed away? She thought of the wounds which were made by the nails the soldiers drove into the hands and feet of Jesus, and the spear which pierced His side, when He was hanging on the cross for our sins, and she knew He suffered in her stead.
Do you love any one well enough to endure great pain for them? Jesus did and what is more, He bore it for those who hated Him, who spat in His face and buffeted Him. If you look in Rom. 5:6-106For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (Romans 5:6‑10) you can read about it. Can you resist such great love any more?
I often hear children say, “Oh, I am so afraid to die,"or," I do not like to think of the Lord's coming." Lisette would have had no fear, for she knew that God had saved her because of the blood of His only begotten Son; and she knew how very kind He must be to be given up to such a cruel death, on purpose that she might go to heaven.
If you were a very poor, unhappy little girl or boy, and a kind gentleman sent you all sorts of good things, clothes, books, playthings, and anything else you desired, should not you wish to see this kind friend to thank him for all he had done for you; and would it not be very strange if you were not to care at all about seeing him, or even to dislike the thought of it? Jesus is this Friend, dear children, and He has done far more for you than anybody else could; and yet how often you would much rather play, or do anything, than hear about the One who has endured such agonies in order that you might be happy.
I met a little girl the other day, who, when she was asked if she ever thought about Jesus and all He had done for her, said, “Oh, I am so young." She was not too young to die, and we do not know how soon the Lord Jesus may be coming to take those who love Him to the Father's house, and then how dreadful it would be to be left behind, to meet the wrath that is so surely coming upon all who know not God and believe not the gospel.
Dear children, I entreat you to escape from the wrath to come! Why not come to Jesus now? I should like to meet you in heaven, where we shall see Jesus and sing praises to Him. Do not delay, for the Lord Jesus says, “Surely I come quickly.”
Lord Jesus, what prevailed on Thee?
What did Thy pity move?
That Thou shouldst even think of me
From Thy high throne above?
Oh, marvel! Thine exceeding grace
And mine exceeding need,
Brought Thee into the sinner's place-
'Twas grace, 'twas love indeed.
An heir of wrath, conceived in sin,
But now of grace a child,
The blood of Jesus made me nigh,
When distant and defiled:
O blessed name! the more by faith
My spirit knows of Thee,
The more Thy sweetness and Thy power
Are manifest to me.
I once was poor and desolate,
And bone the sinner's name,
But Jesus carne to save the lost,
And met me in my shame;
He washed in blood my sins away,
And set me in the place
Where evermore I gaze on Him,
And learn the Father's grace.
I once was dead in trespasses
And sine deserving hell,
No voice but His who saved me, could
My depth of ruin tell.
Thy worthy name, Lord Jesus, is
To me the way of peace;
Life out of death is brought to me,
And pardon and release.