One Sunday afternoon when our Sunday School was gathering for classes, a new scholar was brought in. She was just eleven years old, with rosy cheeks and a happy smile. She soon made friends with all, and was known as “Little Marion.”
Marion came every Sunday for some weeks, and then one day her teacher asked her to stay behind for a chat. As they talked together, the teacher found that the child whom they had all learned to love was not saved.
“How can a little girl understand enough, teacher? There is plenty of time yet. I don’t want to come to Jesus until I get a little older.”
Four months later, little Marion’s mother lay dying, and with her last breath she begged her dear girl to open her heart’s door and let the Saviour in. But Marion still held out and would not heed His voice.
Two years went by. One day her teacher had a letter from little Marion in which she said,
“I am not well, and always feel so tried, and so unhappy too. I do want belong to Jesus Christ. If only my name was in the Bible I would be quite sure that Jesus loved me, and died for me, but I can’t believe it is really for me. Do pray for me.”
You may be sure the teacher did pray for her pupil, as she had done many times before. A little later another note came asking her teacher to please call on her right away.
Down by a canal, with chilly damp sir filling a tiny room sat “little Marion.” Though her cheeks were still rosy, and her eyes bright, the teacher could see that she was a very, very sick girl.
“Teacher, the doctor says I’m very sick, and that I must go to the hospital, but I am not a bit afraid, for I have opened my heart to the Lord Jesus, and He has come in.”
“Did you find your name in the Bible then, after all?”
“Yes, teacher, it is there. I knew my Hits were great, and I so longed to be at rest and peace, and then one night that text came to me with new meaning, ‘Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.’ John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37). I believed and I say it over and over again when Satan tells me I am a sinner. I am just fourteen years old, and I think I am going to die, but I am so glad to know that I am ready. Isn’t the Lord Jesus kind to let me know that He loves me so well? Nurse says I may be gone before morning.”
“Little Marion” was right. Before sunrise her young body was at rest, and her spirit had entered the presence of her Lord and Saviour.
Dear children, do not wait until you are better, or older, or wiser, but let Christ who loved and died for sinners have your love, your life, your all, while you are still young.
ML 03/18/1951