Dear Friends:
I had intended to write to you long ago about dear son, Emil, who went to be with the Lord Jesus in the summer of 1939.
He liked to go to Sunday school and found great joy in trying to recite his Bible verses correctly. He always listened so attentively when the teacher spoke about the Lord Jesus, that his mother and I wondered if he were not saved when he wss quite young.
Emil’s last illness began when he became overheated while he was fishing, and then waded into the chilly water to gather minnows for bait. The doctor found his condition serious because of heart trouble he had contracted several years earlier.
Some days later when he was groaning with intense pain, his mother inquired whether he had asked the Lord Jesus to help him, and if he had come to Him. Emil answered,
“I have asked the Lord already to help me, and I want to come to Him, O, I want to come to Him.”
I then explained to him how ‘willing the Lord Jesus is to receive all who come to Him, and quoted,
When we had showed Emil the way of salvation, we knelt at his bedside and asked the Lord to make the message plain, and to save him. After we rose froirl our knees, Emil folded his hands, closed his eyes, and prayed,
“Please, Lord Jesus, save me and take me to heaven.”
After that, he smiled and was peaceful, and in the midst of intense pain he would often pray,
Please, Lord Jesus, help me.” In all his pain he often looked at us, and smiled peacefully until he became delirious, even then mentioning the Lord’s name, until four days later when the Lord took His lamb Home to be with Himself.
A few weeks before Emil became ill, he received a book as a prize for answering the Bible Questions in “Messages of the Love of God.” How happy he was to get it, and he enjoyed reading it.
His passing away made quite an impression on the children who knew him; and his three younger brothers confessed faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as a result of the home-going of this dear boy. He is now waiting for the resurrection shout of the Lord, when all believers shall be gathered above where sin, sorrow and tears shalt never come.
Yours affectionately in Christ Jesus our Lord, E. F.
Dear Children:
How would it be with you if you were called suddenly to pass through death? Or the Lord might come at any time, as the Christians are looking for.
Three little boys were drowned close to us the other day. They did not think when they left home, that they would be in eternity within an hour. This too saddened a number of their school-fellows, but we wonder if any of these turned to the Lord, to accept Him as their Lord and Saviour?
“Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth,” Prov, 27:1.
Do not lay your head on your pillow tonight before you come to the Lord.
ML 04/27/1941