While visiting in a country district, a friend of the writer’s came to a cottage, the only occupant of which was a boy about twelve years old, just recovering from a severe attack of fever. In the course of conversation the man asked if he attended Sunday school when well.
“Yes, sir;” was the reply.
“What do you read at school, Johnnie?” “The Testament, sir.”
“What does the Testament speak about?”
“About Jesus, sir.”
“What did Jesus come into the world to do?”
To die, sir.”
“For whom did Jesus die?”
“For good people, sir.”
“For good people, Johnny?”
“Yes, sir.”
“And are you good?”
Shaking his head, the little fellow rlied,
“No, sir.”
“This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save”—then, pausing, he looked more closely at the Scripture, and then gazed in astonishment in my friend’s face.
“Well, Johnnie, was it good people that Jesus come to save?”
The tears started in the boy’s eyes, his face brightened up, and he replied,
“No, sir; sinners, sir.”
Dear young reader, have you been under the impression that God only loves good people? Perhaps you have been told that God would not love you if you, were bad, and that it was only “good people” He loved. As on have grown older, you have not got rid of the thought, and even now, it may be, you believe that it is only “good people” who are the objects of His love. If so, dear young friend, be undeceived.
God loves you as you are, and where you are.
While hating your sins with a perfect hatred. He loves your soul. Does a mother not love her boy when he is disobedient and naughty? Assuredly she does. Notwithstanding God loved you so much that He gave His only begotten Son to die for you. The Lord Jesus loved you so much that He gave Himself a ransom for you soul’s deliverance (1 Tim. 2:4-64Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. (1 Timothy 2:4‑6)). It was not for “good people” Jesus died. It wa for sinners.
“Are on a sinner?”
“Yes, I am a guilty sinner.”
Then it was for you He died, my dear young friend. He wishes to save you now. Are you willing to be saved? Do you answer
“There is nothing I desire so much as to be saved?”
If such is the case, the Bible shows very clearly how you can he saved, and saved now.
Could anything be simpler? If you confess with your month the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God hath raised Him from, the dead, thou shalt be saved. Take God at His word. O, bieleve Him, and rejoice in the liberty which can only be found in knowing Him whom to know is life eternal.
Happy children who are waiting
For the bright and joyful day,
Knowing Jesus as their Saviour
They can watch for Him and say,
“Come, Lord Jesus!
Take Thy little ones away.”
Take Thy little ales away.”
ML 01/31/1943