THE above words came earnestly from the lips of a bright, cheerful, and yet thoughtful little maiden of some ten years. What led to this strange question? you may ask. Let me tell you, then, that though so young, and though loved and praised by all who knew her, this little one had proved the truth of the word of God who says, “There is none good, no, not one,” and that all have sinned. Rom. 3:12-2312They 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. 19Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:12‑23). She had found that she was not fit for God, and now her difficulty was, how were her sins to be put away? How was she to obtain peace for her troubled heart? One had told her to pray for the Holy Spirit, and had turned little Jessie (for thus I shall name her) to look at her own doings instead of what the Lord Jesus had done. I sought simply to put before her the love of God in the gift of Jesus, His only begotten Son; and the love, too, of Jesus in coming into this world to save sinners. She told me she believed Jesus had died for her, that she knew it was for the bad ones and not for any good ones He had shed His precious blood, but she did not rest upon that finished work. I then told Jessie that all that had to be done was to “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and she should be saved,” and that the one who believed was saved. She replied, “I do believe, but isn’t there something between?” meaning between believing and being saved. Of course, I told her there was nothing between, but still the doubts and fears filled little Jessie’s heart, and she did not rest on what God said. Some months after, however, when once more going over the old, old story of Jesus and His love, when alone with Jessie—suddenly she turned, and looking up in my face said, “I’ve got peace.” Now she could see that God had laid all her sins on Jesus, that He had borne them all away. Can you, my little friends, say the same? If you can say, like little Jessie, I do believe that Jesus died for me. Well, “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God.” 1 John 5:11Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. (1 John 5:1). I am so glad that I can tell you, “There is nothing between.” The boy or girl who really believes in Jesus is really saved, and can never perish, because Jesus will hold all safely in His strong hand. John 10:28,2928And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. (John 10:28‑29). But my story is not quite finished yet. I am glad to be able to tell you all, that since Jessie has known that Jesus really died for her she has been trying to live for Him.
She writes to me sometimes, and one little letter I had from her I shall give in her own words:
“D.... Mr. F―, I am trying to please Jesus, sometimes it seems hard not to please myself, but then I remember that even Jesus pleased not Himself. Goodbye”....
Are you trying to please Jesus, who has done so much for you? But remember the first thing you can do to please Jesus is to come “Just as you are; without one plea.” When He was here on earth He called a little child unto Him, and the little one does not seem to have been at all afraid of Jesus, for we do not read that he cried, although all the big disciples were standing around. I have no doubt he trusted in Jesus and knew that He would take care and let no harm come to him. And now that Jesus is in the glory, He still loves the little ones, and is still calling them to come unto Him.
May you come to Him then, now, and then you will be able to live for Him who died for you, and what is brighter still, you will by-and-by live with Him forever. I. F.