I WANT to tell you about a little boy whom God had made really happy, though not by giving him much down here, for he was only the son of a poor cottager. What was it, then, do you think, that made this dear boy so truly happy? Listen to his own earnest words. I had called to see his mother, who was one of God’s children, and, while we were talking together, he came in, and I asked him if he loved the Lord Jesus? The mother replied, “He tells me he has eternal life, and that he shall never die.”
I turned to the little boy, and said, “But how can you say that?”
He replied, “Because God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” laying, great emphasis on whosoever.
I then said, “Well, but don’t you know that God is holy; so very holy, that not the least spot of sin can enter into His presence?”
He answered, “Yes,” very quietly.
“How, then, can you—a little sinful boy—expect to get to heaven where God is?”
After a thoughtful pause, “It says in Scripture that the Lord Jesus was without spot of sin.”
I continued, “Oh, yes, I know that; but what has that to do with you? You are full of sin. God said, ‘the soul that sinneth, it shall die;’ and when God says a thing, He always keeps His word.”
“God’s Son died for sinners, and all their sins were put away by the blood of Christ.”
“Do you think your sins were there?” I asked.
“Yes, I know they were.”
“Why, how do you know it?”
“Because I believe God has given me His Spirit—and I feel so happy here,” laying his hand upon his heart.
“Do you? Why you have a sinful little heart there—does that make you feel happy?”
“Oh no, but God’s Spirit does.”
I could question no more, dear children. I could only lift my heart in praise to the Lord for His great goodness in so early teaching this dear little one the true and only way to be really happy.
ML 01/17/1904