I would like to tell you about a poor little boy named Pedro. He lives in a very large city in a far-away country called Brazil. Not only was Pedro born blind, but even worse, his mother did not love him. Sadly, she was a woman who cared more for the pleasures of sin than for her tiny baby. She did not take care of him — she did not feed him, wash him, nor did she cuddle him close. Poor little Pedro! Only an old granny came to give him a little to eat. Because he could not see, they thought he also could not hear. Since no one talked to him, his body grew but he never learned to talk. Poor Pedro was left lying on his back for over four long years. If the old granny had not fed him a little, he would have died. Who could love a little boy like Pedro with so many problems?
He was often sick with a tummy full of worms and his blind eyes were red and sore with infection. If you had seen him lying there you surely would have thought how hard it would be to love this blind little boy who was sick and very dirty.
Not far away in this same city where Pedro lived was a Christian couple, Mario and his lovely wife Christina. They had two children with pretty blond hair and laughing blue eyes. They lived in a nice home, but best of all, because they read the Bible and believed it they were a happy family. The Lord Jesus had washed their hearts from sin and brought many joys into their lives. Because their Saviour, the Lord Jesus, had done so much for them, they wanted to help others. They prayed, asking Him to show them someone they could help. Perhaps they could bring some child into their home to share in their love and what they had.
As they were praying about this, a friend told them about poor, blind Pedro who was now almost five years old. The old granny had died, and now there was no one to even give him a little food. Pedro lay on his back unable to sit up or talk or see. Mario and Christina felt that this must be the Lord’s answer to their prayer. They went to see Pedro. What they found was a very sick little boy, dirty, blind and unable to talk or walk.
Would you or I have turned away, not even wanting to look at that poor little boy? Mario and Christina didn’t. Their love went out to Pedro. They took him home to be their own son. They washed him and fed him and saw that he got all the doctors’ care he needed. What a happy day for Pedro! He was taken from his lonely, unhappy life in that tiny hut and given a place as a son in a loving family in their own home.
Boys and girls, I can see in this true story a picture of God’s love to you. If you have never come to the Lord Jesus for salvation, then you are just like Pedro. You are blind, for the Bible says, “The god of this world [Satan] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ... should shine unto them.” 2 Corinthians 4:44In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4).
You are also sick, like Pedro, because the Word of God describes those who are still in their sins by saying, “The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores.” Isaiah 1:5,65Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. 6From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. (Isaiah 1:5‑6).
And if your sins have not been washed away in the precious blood of Christ, you are also poor, for God says that those without Christ do not know that they are “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” Revelation 3:1717Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: (Revelation 3:17).
But our good news for you is that God loves you, just as Mario and Christina loved Pedro. God wants to adopt you into His family as one of His children, and to care for you, and have you share in all the riches of heaven and the joys of His happy family.
Would you think that Pedro would refuse Mario and Christina’s love and care and ask them to leave him alone in that tiny hut? No. Would you, a sinner, refuse God’s love and care and all the happiness that He offers you? I hope not.
Pedro is now learning to sit up and can say a few words. He is receiving the best care that loving parents can give him. But do not forget that Mario and his wife first loved Pedro when he was very unlovely. They remembered that when God sent His only Son to die for them, they were not only “unlovely” because of their sins, but they were also enemies of God. “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.... When we were enemies, we were reconciled [peace was made] to God by the death of His Son.” Romans 5:8,108But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
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 5:10).
Come to the Lord Jesus today to receive the forgiveness of your sins, and God will welcome you into His family as one of His children. “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” John 1:1212But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12).
Will you accept God’s offer of love and happiness?
ML-10/23/1988