The front door slammed shut for the last time, ending the family morning rush to school and work. The sudden stillness seemed almost heavy, and perhaps that is why three-year-old Candy slipped onto the family-room couch beside Mother for a good think. Mother had settled herself there with a sigh and a second cup of coffee to enjoy her small daughter. They often sat together like this, and Mother would share what was on her mind.
The family station wagon had many mechanical problems, being old and, as we sometimes say, a “lemon.” There was an ongoing dream and prayer with this family of seven to purchase a nice, large van that would end all problems and be perfect for this trip or that. Candy often chattered away about such plans, but° today her thoughts went deeper.
At last she asked, “Mommy, how is the Lord going to let us know when our own van is ready? Will He just call down from heaven and say, ‘Your van is ready!'?”
Now, I suppose you are smiling as Mother did, but with her smile was a tear of thankfulness for the sweet child’s simple faith. But you laughing might say, “God doesn’t call down from heaven!” Oh? But hasn’t He? Since time began He has been calling down, sometimes out loud and sometimes in written words. Then wonder of wonders! He came down in the person of the blessed Lord Jesus. The written words He left us, although not so startling as vocal calls, are really best—because we can read and reread them to be sure we understand their meaning.
God has something for us too—something of far greater value than a nice van. Listen: in Matthew 22 Jesus speaks of a great marriage supper in heaven which God has prepared for His Son. He wants you to be a part of it and to have a home in heaven with Him. Jesus said, “Behold... all things are ready: come unto the marriage.” verse 4. Then in the 24th chapter we read, “Therefore be ye also ready.” How does a child get ready for such a wonderful thing? We must be clean, perfectly clean of any stain of sin, for heaven is a holy place. Past sins, forgotten sins, “little” sins—all must be gone! We can not do one thing to make ourselves clean. So we have a problem. The Son of God Himself came down to help us in our need.
Do you want a perfectly clean heart and the peace and joy it would bring? The Lord Jesus calls this desire “thirsting for the water of life.” For only with a washed heart can one have that life with Him. John 7 verse 37 says, “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink.” And He promised, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37. On Calvary’s cross He shed His own precious blood that we might be cleansed from our sins. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.
Now the question is, are you ready? God is, and still calls to you from heaven.
ML-09/23/1984