WITH delight and satisfaction little Harry (we will call him) returned home from his fishing, whistling as he went along with his fishing-rod on his shoulder and the fish hanging on a string on his hand. What do you think made him so contented and happy? Oh, you say, he might well feel happy, getting such a fine catch to take home to his mamma for supper. Yes,. that was it. It was not a great deal to be happy about, nor could that little thing make him happy very long. Soon he would forget all about it and he would learn that these things only made him happy for a little while and then it had passed away. But would you, my dear boys and girls, like to know what will bring you lasting joy and satisfaction? Ah, let me say it could be nothing that belongs to this scene; but there is that which will bring to you lasting joy and satisfaction. It is the knowledge and your belief of what God has done for you in giving His only Son to die for your sins. You know, no doubt, that you have to meet God about your sins, and if you do not meet Him now about them, while He wants to deal with you in grace, you will have to say to Him about them in the day of His judgment.
Ah, you say, that does not make me happy when I think of it. But why, I ask? Because you have not yet come. to Him with your sins, to tell Him all about them and to own that you are a sinner. If you do, He can let you know His wonderful love to you and how He gave His only begotten Son to bear the punishment you deserved for all your sins. That is why Jesus cried on the cross, “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me.” He was taking the sinners place, bearing his sins and that was the awful result.—The sinner who believes this goes free. So the Lord Jesus said, “HE THAT HEARETH MY WORD, AND ,BELIEVETH ON HIM THAT SENT ME, HATH EVER LASTING LIFE, AND SHALL NOT COME INTO CONDEMNATION; BUT ‘IS PASSED FROM DEATH UNTO LIFE.” John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24).
What joy and satisfaction that verse gives to the one who believes it. And that is not for a little while, like little Harry’s on account of. his fine catch, but all through this life and forever after.
Dear boys and girls, think not of the fleeting joys of this life, but make sure that your sins are forever put away. Believe every word in the verse just quoted, and lasting joy and satisfaction will be yours.
Messages of God’s Love 10/6/1907