I will bring you a pretty talking parrot from Demerara,” was the promise Freddy’s uncle sent, and named the ship by which he would come. That promise was believed, for Freddy knew his uncle was a trustworthy man. All the boys in that little seafaring village heard from Freddy of his expected gift, and day by day with his father’s big telescope, he scanned the broad channel, to catch the first glimpse of his uncle’s steamer, which he knew by its funnels. Delay did not chill his faith, he believed his uncle’s word, and daily expected it to be fulfilled.
Was he disappointed? Assuredly not. When the steamer reached the port, Freddy’s parrot was there, and two days later, you should have seen him walking along from the railway station by his uncle’s side, carrying the cage in which the parrot in all its plumage sat in state, while groups of wondering children gathered around the wonderful bird of which they had heard so much, for the believing boy had spoken with assurance that what his uncle had promised, he would assuredly possess.
How wonderful it is that the word of a man can be so readily received, without a question, while the Word of God who cannot lie is doubted or not believed. When God says He loves sinners (Rom. 5:66For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)), and gave his Son (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)) to be their Saviour; that there is nothing to do (Eph. 2:99Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:9)), in order to be saved, simply and only to receive salvation as the gift of His grace (Titus 2:1111For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, (Titus 2:11)), how slow boys and girls are to take it in. But some do, as Freddy believed his uncle’s promise, and they joyfully say,
If I believe the Word of God, first in what it says about myself, that I am a sinner, (Rom. 3:9-189What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17And the way of peace have they not known: 18There is no fear of God before their eyes. (Romans 3:9‑18)), and then what it says about the Lord Jesus Christ, that He is the Saviour of sinners, (1 Tim. 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15); 1 Cor. 15:33For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (1 Corinthians 15:3)), then I am saved. I accept Him as my own Saviour.
ML 01/01/1939