IT WAS a lovely summer evening down by the seashore. Over six hundred children had assembled for a special gospel service, and they were from every class and age. There were lots of dear little children—five, six, seven and eight years old, and plenty of big children—twelve and fourteen. There were also a great number of young fellows and girls, fathers and mothers, and even aged white-haired folks. All had come to hear what was said to the children and listen to the sweet singing.
And oh, on that calm summer evening, the singing was indeed sweet. How the boys, especially, delighted in that hearty chorus:
“Pull for the shore, sailor, pull for the shore;
Heed not the rolling waves, but bend to the oar.
Safe in the life-boat, sailor, cling to self no more,
Leave the poor old stranded wreck, and pull for the shore!”
With what earnestness the hundreds of voices joined in the second verse:
“Trust in the life-boat, sailor, all else will fail,
after it had been explained that the meaning was:
“Trust in the Saviour, all else will fail,”
What a thoughtful look spread over many young faces when the hymn was given out:
“I need Thee, precious Jesus, for I am full of sin;
My heart is dark and guilty, my heart is dead within.
I need the cleansing fountain, where I can always flee;
The blood of Christ most precious, the sinner’s perfect plea.”
But perhaps the sweetest thing of all was to hear the tiny ones singing alone, while the older ones seemed to hold their breath:
“If I come to Jesus, happy shall I be;
He is gently calling, little ones like me.”
I think that a good many had to brush away the tears from their eyes, and I have no doubt that some little ones, and some big ones too, did come to Jesus that night.
My friend gave a most earnest address, and showed how the Word of God distinctly says that rich and poor, old and young, children as well as grown-ups, are all alike sinners!
“There is NO DIFFERENCE!” And because all are alike sinners, all are alike in danger, and all in need of Someone to deliver them froth that danger, and to put them into a place of safety.
Just as the children on a sinking ship would be in as much danger of going down to the bottom of the sea, so the children in this sinful world, which is very like a wrecked ship, are in as much danger of being lost. But just as those who jump from the sinking ship into the life-boat would be safe, so sinful boys and girls who hasten to the loving arms of Jesus will be safe forever.
ML-06/28/1970