Lost.

From: Good News for Young and Old: Volume 9 (1867)

(For the Little Ones.)

A SHORT time ago, I saw a little boy standing in one of the streets of B―, crying very bitterly. His loud sobs drew a great many people around him, some of whom soon began to ask him what was the matter. Poor little fellow, his distress was so great, that he was a long time before he could say. At last he cried, “I’ve — lost — my — mother.” He had left his mother’s side to look into the shop windows, and when he looked round again, she was gone. Inquiries were made, his parent was searched for, and at last was found; and the little boy was soon again by his mother’s side, much to their mutual joy.

I thought as I beheld the scene, what a picture of the condition of every little boy and girl, yea, man and woman too, — by nature lost!

My dear little reader, such is your position by nature, and condition, too, now, if you have not believed in Jesus the Saviour of the lost. Oh how fearful a position to be in! Think of it, my dear little one, and may God by his Spirit bring you to know your need of Jesus, the “good Shepherd,” who came all the way from heaven to seek and to save such; who, when he was here upon this earth, “took little children up in his arms and blessed them.” Do I hear you say, “I should like to have been with him then?” Well, dear little one, he is the same loving, gentle Shepherd now as he was then. He loves “the little children” still, and he is as willing to save you now. Will you not come to him? He has said you may. “Whosoever will, let him come, and take of the water of life freely.” The words which he spake, when down here— “Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God”— are as true now as when he first uttered them. Oh come, then, dear little one, to him, believe on him; he has said, “Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.” Observe, dear child, what the little boy did when he knew he was lost; he did not wander from street to street in search of his parent, for in doing this he would have got farther off from her. No; he stood still, and cried; hence he was soon found.

Now, my dear little one, I would ask you if the case of this little boy in any way describes your own. Do you feel that you are a lost sinner? God’s word declares you are, that you are dead in trespasses and sins. Young as you are, you have done that which you ought not to have done; hence the truth of God’s word: “All have sinned.” You were born in sin; and what a hateful thing “SIN” is in God’s sight! for even the holy Jesus, when he was made sin for us on the cross, was forsaken of God.

It is a sense of this that I want you to have, because it will bring you to feel your need of Christ. When a little boy or girl, or any one, is sick, they need a physician; and it is their being so that brings them to feel their need of him. May the sense of your need of Jesus, dear little one, bring you by faith to him: he alone can save you.

I dare say you remember the case of the poor woman in the 8th chapter of Luke, who had an issue of blood twelve years, and “who spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,” she went to Jesus, and touched the border of His garment, and immediately her issue of blood stanched; she felt her need of Him, for “they that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick;” she believed in Jesus, and she was saved. The Lord Jesus said to her, “Thy faith hath made thee whole: go in peace.” What gracious words! how they must have lit up the heart of the poor woman! What a mercy it was for her that she went to Jesus; she got in one minute (through believing in him) what she had been trying to get for twelve years, and had she tried her best twelve years longer, she would not have been healed but would only have got worse; and more than that, she might have died. So it may be with you, my dear little one, you may die very soon, and then where are you going? Or the Lord Jesus may come from heaven at any moment to take all those who have believed in him, up to be with himself forever; then would you be left behind? Oh my dear little one, your case is very important; your need is very great, your soul is very precious; time is very short, Jesus stands with open arms to receive you. Perhaps you say, What am I to do? Do, dear little one?

“We are not told to labor

To put away our sin;

So foolish, weak, and helpless

We never could begin.

There is nothing to do,

For being born dead,

We must needs have another

To work in our stead.

Nothing, either great or small;

Nothing, dear child, no;

Jesus did it, did it all,

Long, long ago.