I wonder how many of my young readers go to Sunday school. Perhaps most of you do; and if so. I know that you look forward to the end of the year, when very likely you will have a prize.
I am going to tell you about a little girl, whose name was Annie. She went to Sunday school, and at the end of the year she had a prize given to her.
What do you think it was?
Well, I will tell you. It was a Bible. Now, that surely is the best thing that Annie could possibly have had, for the Bible tells us the way to get to heaven; and I am sure that every girl and boy who reads this story wants to go there.
But you have all done naughty things, and so God says,
“All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23.
He could not allow you to be in heaven with even one sin upon you; so that if you are to be there, it must be without your sins.
But then the Bible tells us that God loved us so much that He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, into this world, but the people hated Him, and nailed Him to a cross of wood. And while He was hanging there, God laid on the Lord Jesus all the sins of those who believe on Him, and pushed Him instead of them; as we read in 1 Peter 2:23:
“Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree.”
So you see that if you come to God through the Lord Jesus Christ, and simply believe that He died for you, God will pardon all your sins, and give you eternal life; as it says in John 5:24.
“He that heareth My word, and bieveth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
Then you will be ready for Jesus to come, for He said when here,
“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am there ye may be also.”
And He is soon coming to take all those whose sins are forgiven to be with Him in heaven forever; and you will be able to be there, because all your sins will be washed away in His precious blood.
I think that little Annie must have had her sins forgiven, for she was not only very much pleased with her Bible, but used to read it very often, not only to herself, but to her big brothers. She also used to sing to them out of the hymn book she received at Sunday school.
“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.” Psalms 19:7,8.
ML 01/09/1944