Jimmie hadn’t been to Sunday school for quite a few weeks, for he was very sick. I think if you had seen him it would have brought tears to your eyes, for he was so thin, and pale.
Jimmie’s father had stayed home from work that day, as his little boy was so sick, and he had no mother—she had gone to be with Jesus two years before.
The little sufferer never complained. Suddenly he raised up in his bed and said, “Daddy, I am going to be with Jesus soon, and I shall have no pain there.”
“Yes, Jimmie my boy, you’ll be happy there, but I shall be miserable without you.”
“But we’ll all be happy when we meet together in heaven. Will you promise to meet me there?”
The father was a kind and loving man. He was honest and sober too, but he was not a Christian, and he knew he was not ready to die. He bowed his head silently a moment, and then he said, “I’ll try, Jimmie, I’ll try.”
“No, no, Daddy, I want you to promise to meet me there. You must promise. You must say, ‘I will.’”
“All right, my boy. I promise I will meet you in heaven.”
Jimmie settled contentedly back on his pillows, and before many hours, his happy spirit had departed to be with Jesus.
His poor father paced up and down in his grief. He had promised his boy that he would meet him in heaven, and he truly wished to be there. But his sins weighed heavily upon him, and he felt he could never be sure that he was ready for that place of light and holiness.
The very day after little Jimmie was buried, his father picked up his neglected Testament, and his eyes were directed to a most wonderful verse.
Over and over again he read that verse. Then silently, and with flowing tears, he knelt and bowed his head. Every little while he would raise his eyes and read that verse again. At last he prayed aloud, “O Lord, I am ungodly, but I thank Thee for dying for me.”
He arose from his knees a forgiven and saved man and on his way to heaven. He had kept his promise to his boy.
Will you be in heaven too? Come to the Lord Jesus now, and take Him as your own Saviour. He is waiting and He is willing. Will you come?
ML 04/05/1953