O! THAT I knew where I might find Him! that I might come even to His mercy-seat.”
Such were the words which came from the lips of a little girl kneeling by her bedside.
“I think I will kneel here until I do find Him,” she said. “I wonder whether He would reveal Himself to me, if I kneel here all night. Surely He would think me so in earnest, that He would let me find Him before the morning.” And then she cried again,
Who was it that this dear child was so anxious to find? Some little reader will, I am sure, be able to answer at once, that it could be no other than the Lord Jesus. Yes, it was Jesus whom Lizzie sought, and was longing to find. But she was seeking Him in a wrong way! She expected that wonderful feelings of peace and happiness would come over her, by which she might be sure that she had found the Saviour.
Thus this poor little straying lamb went on, night after night, kneeling at her bedside, her young heart yearning to know Jesus as her own Saviour. And again and again she was disappointed, because those wonderful feelings of happiness of which she dreamed did not burst upon her, as she fancied they would if she found the Lord Jesus.
But Lizzie had not heard the gospel of God’s grace in its real simplicity. Instead, therefore, of just believing on the Lord Jesus in order to become a saved soul, she was waiting to first feel that she was saved! God plainly says in His holy Book,
Happy feelings will come later. This is what Lizzie had yet to learn. But after she saw her own helplessness, she was led to look simply to Jesus, and believe on Him as her own precious Saviour. Then she could by faith gaze up into His blessed face, and truly say,
“He died for me; He is risen for me; He lives for me.” “He loved me, and gave Himself for me.”
Can you say this, my little reader? If you cannot, let me tell you that Jesus is willing and waiting to save you now, as He did Lizzie. Once she was miserable; but now, by God’s grace, she has joy and peace through believing on the Lord Jesus. God has forgiven all her sins; He has given her eternal life. She is saved for time and for eternity. The Saviour in whom she trusts “is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him.” Heb. 7:2525Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25). Will you come?
ML 02/19/1933