ABOUT two years ago there was a little Chinese girl living up in Canada. Her name was Ena. She had been going to a Sunday school, but got tired of it, and now she plays around with other little girls who do not go to Sunday school.
A short time ago I asked Ena if she remembered that verse—John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)—beginning “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son”? With a little help she was able to finish the verse— “that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
You see she remembers part of what she learned at Sunday school, although it was nearly two years since she had been there. She knows that Jesus is the Son of God, and that He died on the cross to save sinners.
When I asked her if she believed that Jesus died for her, what do you think she said?
Most of you who are reading this would answer that question by saying “Yes” or “No”. Or perhaps you would say “I don’t know” or “I think so.” But little Ena said, “I half do.”
Do you think that answer would satisfy the Lord Jesus? No, dear children, the Lord Jesus wants you to believe on Him with your whole heart.
Ena’s answer reminds us of King Agrippa, a man about whom we read in the Book of Acts. In the 26th chapter the Apostle Paul is telling the King about the Lord Jesus. When Paul had finished speaking, Agrippa said,
“Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian” (verse 28).
But “almost” is not enough. Suppose you were walking, across a bridge over a deep river and dropped a silver dollar. Then suppose the dollar rolled toward the edge of the bridge and you hurried after it, but before you could reach it, it rolled over and dropped into the water. You almost saved it, but almost saved it, but “almost” didn’t help you a bit, for the dollar was just as much lost, never to be found, as if you hadn’t even tried to save it.
Just as truly “almost” believing cannot save you from your sins. Neither can half believing, as little Ena said.
Let us who have pat our trust in this wonderful Saviour pray for Ena and others who know something about the Lord Jesus, but do not yet believe with all their heart that He died for them.
ML 09/19/1937