Elsie, with her box of water colors, was coloring pretty texts. Her aunt, suffering from a burnt foot, was unable to go out, so Elsie, desiring to keep her company, was painting texts to be given to the crippled boys and girls in the Children's Hospital.
As she colored the words, "The gift of God is eternal life," her aunt quietly said: "To me it seems strange for you to be preparing that beautiful text to show the little crippled children the way of salvation, while you are refusing God's gift yourself."
Elsie looked up from her painting, quite astonished at these words. She enjoyed coloring the texts, and was pleased to think that her work would cheer the little children in the hospital. But it never dawned upon her that she was rejecting the gift of God.
"What do you mean, Aunt, by saying that?" asked Elsie, looking seriously into her aunt's face.
"I am afraid that you, my dear niece, have not yet taken God at His Word, and received His gift of eternal life for yourself. It is one thing to know about it, and quite another to have it. I am sure you have heard and read about the gift of God, but I am anxious that you should be able to say it is yours."
A long silence followed. Then a tear was seen, followed by a sob. The Spirit of God was silently working in her heart, showing her that she really was an unbeliever, and that though she had a knowledge of God's Word, she had not received His gift of eternal life.
Raising her tear-filled eyes, and grasping her aunt's hand, Elsie earnestly asked, "How can I receive God's gift, and be sure I have eternal life?"
"By believing His Word, Elsie dear; that's all," said her aunt. "He says that He has given His Son to be the Savior of sinners, and Jesus the Son of God died that we might have life. All who believe on Him are possessors of that life, just as He has said. 'He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.' John 3:36.
"You must believe that, just in the same way as you believed the other day, that I had put your letter in the mailbox. You didn't see me do it, but you believed me when I told you I had. You took me at my word."
"Is that the way to believe God—just to take Him at His word? I never knew that before," said Elsie.
Later that night, Elsie threw her arms around her aunt's neck, and said, "I have the gift of God now, auntie. I know it, because God says it, and I have taken Him at His word."
Such was Elsie's faith, and as her life has since proved, she became God's child that night and a possessor of eternal life. Have you taken God at His word? If not, do so now!
"If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Rom. 10:9.