A DEAR Christian girl, eleven years of age, was taken quite ill one day with severe vomiting and other troubles. Her usually bright, happy face was now full of sadness. and she could not allow her mother out of her sight, but followed her about in a strange way. The mother, seeing that she was troubled, and full of concern, at last said to her, “I—, have you something on your mind?” “Mamma, I think it would be awful to die,” was little I—’s reply. A neighbor woman had died a short time before, and this death had evidently made a deep impression upon the child, and now Satan, taking advantage of this, was pressing the terrors of death upon her soul, in connection with her sudden illness.
The faithful mother soon quieted the fears of her little daughter. “Do you believe in Jesus?” she asked. “Oh! yes,” was the child’s reply. The mother then said, “Jesus died for you, and He would not leave you to die without His presence with you to comfort you. For the unbeliever, death is fearful, but for the believer there is no sting. For me, Jesus would be at the end of the line, calling me home. And Jesus will carry you through.”
“If it is that way Mamma,” said the dear girl, who was fond of and familiar with many sweet hymns, “then we can well sing,
“No more with lisping, stammering tongue,
‘But conquerors, o’er the grave.’”
From that moment a change came over her, and she spent the rest of the afternoon singing and rejoicing—that sweet little hymn, “Thine, Jesus Thine,” occupying her most of the time.
How is it with you, my reader? The fear of death will sometimes creep into the mind of even a Christian, as in the case of this dear child. But if you have no fear of death you may be fearful as to other things; there are many who dread the morrow; some fear the world of hunger, some are in fear as to their circumstances, and many. other things arise to make hearts fearful; but the Christian should remember that he is in the hands of a loving Saviour, who is ordering all his circumstances, and in infinite wisdom marking out his pathway. Knowing this, he should not be afraid. Fear comes from Satan—not from God. And if we have perfect confidence in God we will be lifted above fear as to everything. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Tim. 1:77For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7). It is the fearful, and the unbelieving, and the abominable, who have their part in “the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone.” Rev. 21:88But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8).
God is not honored by His dear people’s being fearful. He would have them have perfect confidence in Him—in His goodness, and in His power to do them good. Those who honor Him will be honored of Him, and they will be kept in all their ways. And it is the blessed privilege of the Christian to trust and be kept in peace.
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee; because he trusted in Thee.”
“Trust ye in the Lord forever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.”
ML 07/08/1906