BERNARD was just fifteen years old, and he was an orphan. His father died when he was just a little fellow, and his mother had just died shortly before this story begins. But both his father and mother loved the Lord Jesus, and had often told Bernard of the love that brought the Lord Jesus down from heaven to die on the cross for sinners. Bernard believed all this, and rejoiced in the happiness of knowing Jesus as His own precious Saviour.
Bernard was not a healthy boy at all, but he had to earn his own living somehow, so he went to the big city of London. Our story opens on a Sunday morning in December, and poor lonely Bernard was walking slowly along Regent Street. He wore neither coat nor hat, for he had not yet found a job, and he had hardly any money left. But he still rejoiced in knowing the Lord Jesus as his Saviour, and he was looking for a place where he could hear the old familiar hymns, and hear someone speak well of Jesus.
There ahead he saw a crowd of well-dressed people turning into a .beautiful church building, and so he turned in with them, and stood looking around for a place to sit down. Mr. Adams had come in just after Bernard, and his heart felt touched for the poor lonely boy, so he invited him into his own pew. Then Bernard settled down to hear the sweet story of the love of Jesus. His heart yearned again to enjoy tidings of the loving Saviour. Eagerly he listened to the hymns, but they were all new to him. The eloquent prayer seemed to be different somehow, and did not warm his heart at all. Then came the sermon but it all seemed to be so hard to understand, till at last the boy's thoughts began to wander a bit. All at once he heard the precious name of Jesus! Yes, the preacher was talking about Him now, and the boy leaned forward to catch every word. Could it be true? The preacher was telling them that Jesus was not the Son of God but just a good man who left us a very good example. He was saying that we must try to be kind arid unselfish, as Jesus was—and worse still, he told them that, although Jesus died on the cross that His death was like that of any man, and that His blood was not needed to put away sins.
Mr. Adams noticed the excitement of the boy, and he saw the tears run down the thin cheeks. All at once, brave Bernard rose from his seat and stretched out his pale hands, and with a boyish voice he cried out, "The Bible says, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt he saved, For there is none other name under heaven given. among men, whereby we must be saved.' "
A profound silence followed, and every eye was turned to look in the direction of the boy. Some trembled and turned pale, for they knew the lad had spoken the truth of God. Only the preacher remained unmoved as he watched Bernard turn and walk with determined steps out of the building.
As he reached the door, and paused to look at the cold wet streets, a hand was laid on his shoulder, and he turned to see Mr. Adams standing by him.
"Oh, sir! I could not help it, you heard what he said."
"I heard nothing more than usual," said Mr. Adams—but at the same time he turned to avoid the keen eyes of the boy. "But you are cold and you look sick. Let me take you home."
Soon Bernard was enjoying a warm meal in his kind friend's fine home.
Mr. Adams was a wealthy man, and very kind at heart. He felt he would be doing a good deed by showing kindness to this needy boy, and he thought that it would please God, but he had never seen himself a lost guilty sinner before Him. How many there are who feel that God is looking for something in us to make Him love us. But God's Word tells us that "there is none that doeth good," (Romans 3:1212They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (Romans 3:12)) and that "God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:88But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8).
(To be continued 4/20/52)
Messages of the Love of God 4/13/1952