for repeating this text, when I was six years old. But, although able to repeat it, I did not personally believe it, or know its saving power. When I first went from home, my mother gave me a Bible, and marked with her own hand John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16). For her sake, I often read it, but, beyond that it had no power over me.
A companion, who was a true Christian, asked me, one night, what verse was the means of leading me to the Lord Jesus, for she evidently thought I was converted. I felt unable to answer her, so she asked,
“How long have you had eternal life?”
I hung my head, for I was ashamed to tell I did not have it at all.
“God loved me, God gave His Son for me: I believed, I received everlasting life.”
It all seemed so simple. I saw it was for me as well as for her, for “WHOSOEVER” included me. O how different John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) was to me then, for it showed me God as loving me, His Son as given for me, and everlasting life as mine. It became indeed my favorite text, and with what delight I have since repeated the well known words.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Messages of God’s Love 12/25/1932