Ralph was the youngest boy of a family of four. When he was just a wee little fellow his mother had made him a little rag doll. Ralph carried his doll around most every where he went, and at night he always wanted it for company when he went to bed. He called it Susie.
One evening at bedtime Ralph began to cry, “Mommy, I want Susie!”
“Where is Susie, Ralph?” she asked.
“She’s on the back porch. She is ‘deaded'!”
When Mother went to get Susie she found the little doll was soaking wet; when she held it up its head fell over.
She carried the doll into the bedroom and asked Ralph some questions. She learned that her little boy had “baptized” Susie, in the bath just like he had seen his father baptize some believers at the hall.
“Don’t cry, Ralph,” said Mother. “Susie isn’t dead. I’ll fix her, and she’ll be all right in the morning.” Thus comforted, Ralph soon dropped off to sleep.
Mother took the rag doll apart, dried the wet cotton by the stove, stuffed it back in again, sewed it up, and soon Susie was back in business.
When Ralph woke in the morning he was delighted to see that Susie was all right again. She wasn’t “deaded” any more; Mother had fixed her!
One day soon the Lord Jesus is going to raise from the dead all those who have “died in faith” — those who have believed in Him. He tells us in John 11:2525Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: (John 11:25): “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout... and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” I Thess. 4:16.
Even now He is quickening dead souls, those that hear His voice. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.” John 5:2525Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. (John 5:25).
ML-05/30/1976