Charlie was just a little fellow, and his parents were poor, but they were Christians and Charlie himself too loved the Lord. One day he was sitting on the front steps reading his Bible when a well-dressed man came by.
“You should put that Book away,” said the man scornfully. “It’s not for the likes of you!”
“But it is for me,” responded Charlie.
“How do you know that?”
“Well,” was the boy’s calm answer, “my name is mentioned in it.”
“Your name?” asked the man in surprise. “Show it to me.”
“Here, sir,” said Charlie, and pointing to the open page, he placed his little finger on the text: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save 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).) Then he added, “that is my name—Sinner! —and therefore the Book is for me.”
Our name is written in God’s Book for we are all sinners. “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23).) “But God commendeth His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:88But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8).)
God loves us and sent His Son, the Lord Jesus, to die for us on the cross, so that “believing, [we] might have life through His name.”
“Verily, verily I say unto you, Verily, verily”-message ever new, “He that believeth on the Son,” ’tis true, “Hath everlasting life.”
ML-06/26/1977