Stewart and Willie were schoolboys. They walked to and from the school together, and often spent the evenings with one another. I met the two boys one night at the close of a Children’s Meeting. Stewart was sitting close to the wall, looking so serious that I was certain something was troubling him. Sitting down by his side, I asked,
“Well, Stewart, is your soul saved yet? Can you look forward to being with Jesus in that bright and happy home where they see His face?” He raised his head, and with such an earnest look—his big blue eyes peering into mine—he slowly replied,
“I cannot say that, sir; but I would like to be saved, and I have been trying all I can since last Friday night.”
“And what have you been doing, Stewart?” I asked.
“When I went home from the meeting last Friday, I told my parents I would like to be saved, and they told me if I was good, and did what I was bidden, and keep God’s commandments, I would be saved, and get to heaven; and they said that was in the Bible, sir; and so Willie and I have made up our minds to do this, and we will try and live as well as we can for the time to come,” answered the boy.
The decided manner in which the little fellow spoke, left no doubt on my mind that he was really in earnest about his salvation; but it was sad to think he had been put on the wrong track to find it, by those who were entirely mistaken, and had told little Stewart what was not true. There is no part of the Bible that says boys and girls will get to heaven if they are “good” and “keep the commandments;” but I’ll tell you what it does say. It says there is none good, “no not one.” Everyone has broken the commandments, and all are therefore under the curse. Just read Romans 3:9-19, and Galatians 3:10, and you will see.
When I told the dear boy this, his blue eyes filled with tears, and he sobbed bitterly—for, after all his reformation, he saw that he was unfit for heaven, and could not go there.
“And what, then, shall we do, sir?” he asked seriously.
“You can do nothing, Stewart, because you are ruined sinners; but if you both come close, I will let you read in my Bible what Jesus has done for you.”
The boys drew near, and we turned and read,
“He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5. This tells about the sufferings of Jesus, when He died on the cross for sinners.
“Now all this was for lost sinners,” I said, “and He suffered and died that they might go free. I am saved by His work, and not by mine. Do you believe that Jesus died for you?”
“Yes, I do, for I am a sinner,” said Stewart.
“You are quite sure you believe?” “Quite sure, sir.”
“Well, now, let us see what Jesus says of those that believe.” We turned to John 6:47, there Jesus says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.”
“What does He say you have, Stewart?”
“Everlasting life, everlasting life,” said the boy, and the cloud passed from his face as he said it.
I thought it best to leave the Word of God with the two boys, and not to press them to say they believed; and soon after, we parted.
Next evening, a good while before meeting time, my two little friends were there. I asked Stewart how it stood with him now.
“Saved, sir, saved, and Willie here, too. He saw it first, and we are both happy now.”
The two little soldiers go on rejoicing in Christ, their Saviour.
ML 05/17/1931