Many years ago a man from F— went to visit the owner of a noble castle and to see the vast estate. Soon the guest began to speak profanely of the elderly nobleman's Heavenly Father. On being reproved he answered that he knew nothing about God, for he had never seen Him. The host said nothing more that evening; but the next morning, before setting out to view the castle grounds, he first showed him a very beautiful picture which hung on the wall.
"'Whoever drew that picture knows very well how to use his pencil," said the visitor.
"My son drew that picture."
"Then your son is a very clever man."
They went into the large garden, looking at the many flower beds and the plantations of forest trees.
"Who has the ordering of this garden?" asked the gentleman.
"My son," replied the nobleman. "He knows every plant, I may say, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop on the wall."
"Indeed," said the guest, "I shall think very highly of him soon."
Next they went into the village to see a neat cottage where the worthy son had established a school for young orphans. The children looked so happy and spoke so fondly of their benefactor that the gentleman was much pleased, and when he returned to the castle he said to the nobleman,
"What a happy man you are, to have so good a son!"
"How do you know I have so good a son?"
"Because I have seen his works, and I know that he must be clever and good, if he has done all that you have showed me."
"But you have never seen him."
"No; but I know him very well, because I judge him by his works."
"True," replied the host, "and this is the way I know the character of my Heavenly Father. I know from His works that He is a Being of infinite wisdom, power, and goodness."
Dear reader, the greatest of all God's works was the redemption of lost, guilty man through the gift of His Son. You may own the wisdom, power, and goodness of God as seen in creation and yet not please God and not be saved. God wants you to know His love through believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior.