"Are you a Christian?" we asked a young girl whom we knew to be anxious about her soul's salvation.
"I hope so," she answered.
"Have you eternal life?”
At this second question her face fell and she was silent.
Again we asked, "Did you ever thank God for the gift of eternal life?”
"I pray.”
"Christ is God's gift to sinners: those who possess God's gift have eternal life, and the forgiveness of their sins. Believe in Jesus, and give thanks to God for His gift of eternal life.”
Then we went on to this text: "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life"; and having read it we asked our little friend, "Do you believe on the name of the Son of God?”
"I do," she answered; and we believed she did so most truthfully.
"You believe that He died for your sins on the cross?”
"I do.”
"Let us read the text again. 'These things have I written unto you' now put your own name here that believe on the name of the Son of God that ye may know that ye have eternal life.'”
The darkness rolled away. God gave faith to her, and she took the gracious word to herself. Long afterward she looked back with thankfulness to that night as the occasion on which she passed out of darkness into God's marvelous light.
Can you put your name there—or are you still just "hoping"?