Rosie was a clever girl, but she had a cross temper and many naughty ways. Had the truth been told she would never have received one of those presents which aunties used to bring, marked, “For a Good Girl.” Without being extremely bad, she was a living proof that
“All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” Romans 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23). But do not think that you are any better than she was. Next to a doll—the delight of every girl’s heart—her favorite pleasure was to draw. She would spend hours sketching houses, men and women, cats, motor cars, and other things on blackboard, paper, or any conceivable thing.
A visitor at the house one day observed Rosie disobey her mother, and full of frowns instead of smiles. Wondering how she could reach her conscience, she thought of her artistic efforts. When they were quite alone they had a talk about the Lord Jesus; how good He was when He was a little child on earth; how He grew tip to be a man, and was kind to everyone, though people were wicked and cruel to Him; how He let men nail His hands and feet to the dreadful cross of wood; how He hung there, and did not say an angry word, but prayed to His Father for His murderers; how He rose up from the dead, came out of the grave, and went back to heaven, where He still intercedes for His people who live in this wicked world.
Little Rosie liked very much to hear about the “holy child Jesus,” and she said:
“Do you think Jesus can make me a good girl?”
“Yes,” said her friend, “I am sure He can, and He will do so if you trust Him.” Then came the use of a simple event which had happened only a few evenings before. Rosie could not work out the sum on her slate, but got the figures all wrong. Mother finding it all wrong, crossed it out with many crosses. Such a looking slate made the little girl cry. What was to be done?
“O, mother, do rub it out, take the sponge and clean it off.” This done, Rosie dried her tears, and exclaimed,
“Now, mother, you cannot see it, I cannot see it, and no one can see it.”
Then the visitor explained that her heart and life were all wrong, but that “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)), and that if she would just own up she was a sinner and let the Lord Jesus Christ save her, cleanse her, and keep her, all would be put right.
Kneeling down with the little girl, the visitor asked the Lord to make the way of salvation simple and plain to her little friend. Then she asked Rosie to speak to the Lord, which she did in the following simple words.
“Blessed Lord Jesus, do cleanse my wicked heart; let the Blood You shed on the cross wash my sins away now. Amen.” Sometime after this Rosie said,
“I know all my sins are gone, Jesus did rub them all out. Now, He cannot see them, the angels cannot see them, I cannot see them, and no one will see them anymore.”
In all honesty of heart Rosie owned her lost condition, accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her own personal Saviour, and was saved.
Her sins which were many were cleansed; her heart was filled with the “rest” which He alone can give (Matthew 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)); her tastes, likings, desires, in fact, her whole nature has been changed (2 Corinthians 5:1717Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)). “A Friend that sticketh closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:2424A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24)) has been her companion; the Word, “which endureth Forever” (1 Peter 1:2525But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. (1 Peter 1:25)), her unfailing guide; a hope, “sure and steadfast” (Hebrews 6:1919Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; (Hebrews 6:19)), has filled her heart, that yet a little while (Hebrews 10:3737For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. (Hebrews 10:37)) and the One who shed His blood for her on the cross (Galatians 2:2020I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)) will welcome her to His glory throne to be forever with Himself (1 Thessalonians. 4:17).
What little Rosie did, any other little girl or little boy may do. Jesus said,
Rosie accepted His invitation, took Him as her Saviour, and went on her way rejoicing. Will you not do as she did and know your sins forgiven.
Make sure that Rosie’s choice is your choice now; that her Saviour is yours for time and eternity. Think not there is plenty of time. Others, like yourself, have been suddenly called. Be real, be earnest. Look to the Saviour and be saved now.
ML 12/27/1931