DO you know, dear children, that when Jesus went away out of this world to heaven He told the people who loved Him that He would come back again one day, to take them all home to the Father's house? This promise was a great comfort to them, because, you know, nothing cheers us up so much, when we are saying good-bye to dear friends, as hearing them say they will come back again.
Now, a great many years have gone by since Jesus left His disciples, and many, many hundreds and thousands have followed Him to heaven, gladly leaving this world to be present with the Savior they have loved and served.
And Jesus has never yet come back as He said He would, so that some people, who do not want ever to see Him, say: "Oh! He will never come at all," just because He has never come yet—which is very foolish. But all round this great world there are still many disciples of the Lord Jesus who believe every word He has spoken, and they are watching for Him more and more, and think the day is now drawing very near when He will come down from heaven in a cloud, and with a glad, strong shout call all His own dear ones to meet Him in the air, and to go home with Him to the beautiful place He has got all ready for them.
And "when He cometh to make up His jewels," dear children, will you be found among "His loved and His own"? Many very little children love Jesus, and know that He has died to wash them from their sins. Are you sure that you do? And some very little ones are waiting for Him. Are you?
The other day I was sitting in a cottage home, chatting with a young mother, when a wee damsel, not quite three years old, clambered upon my knee and pillowed her little golden head on my bosom. While mother and I talked she began singing softly to herself a little song of her own making up, and this was what she sang over and over—
“We'll all go together when Jesus comes,
We'll all go together when Jesus comes;”
and she rocked contentedly backwards and forwards, smiling as she sang.
Was it not a sweet little song?
This tiny child knew that her father and mother loved Jesus, and were looking for Him to come; and she knew she loved Him too, and she was sure He would not leave the darling baby behind when He took them all home, so they would all go together when Jesus came!
Perhaps some dear children who read this may not be quite sure they belong to Jesus—that they are saved, and ready to go to heaven when He comes. This must make you very unhappy. Do not try to forget it, or to put off seeking the Savior, or you will be lost. Do kneel down at once, and ask Jesus to save you now; tell Him you are weak and sinful, and that you want to take your place among the sinners for whom He died; and I am sure He will not keep you long waiting, but will wash away your sins in His own precious blood, and give you to be looking with joy to see Him face to face at His coming.
=============================
A CHILD'S ANSWER.
"You know you are going away, my darling," said a mother to her little boy—"going away from us all. I wish I were going with you, but I think you are not alone, though I cannot be with you. What does your heart rest upon?”
The boy looked up into his mother's face and repeated, 'Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”
“Does he understand it? Can a child of seven years old grasp the meaning of such wonderful words?" thought the mother. So she whispered:" Tell mother, my pet, what makes you rest your heart on these words?”
“Oh, "he said," it's only just like this: `Jesus Christ yesterday' is then, when He died for me; Jesus Christ today' is now, when He is in heaven praying for me; and ' forever'—well, forever belongs to Him, and He takes care of it.”