A little girl and a little boy entered an omnibus one day in London. The girl sat down in one of the seats and took the little boy upon her knee, and the bus moved on its journey. Presently along came the conductor to collect the money for the fares and he asked the age of the little boy. He was told that the boy was five years old and quite rightly he demanded the boy’s fare. The little girl explained that she had only enough money to pay for herself, but the conductor said that she and the little boy would have to leave the bus if she was unable to pay for him. As the lad began to descend the stairs, a kind gentleman, who had been listening to the conversation, handed some money to the girl in order that she might be able to pay for the little boy’s fare. Gladly the girl showed the conductor that she now had sufficient money to pay for both of them, which she did. The little boy returned, and I noticed that he now occupied a seat of his own. He was now entitled to it because his fare had been paid, and he had a ticket to show his right to travel on that bus. Yes, his fare was paid in full, and yet it had cost him nothing. All he did was to accept that which another had so wilngly given on his behalf.
As the bus proceeded on its journey I was reminded by this incident of how the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s own beloved Son, had so lovingly and so wilngly died on Calvary’s cross for sinners. Through His work He has given to all who accept Him the right to a place in heaven. He paid it all. His precious blood which alone cleanses sinners from all their sins, freely entitles all who believe in Him to go to be with Him in glory. Like that little boy, we were unable to do or to pay anything ourselves, but another, even Jesus, has seen us in our need, and has suffered the punishment against sin on our behalf, in order that we, by accepting His payment, might go free and never come into judgment. Dear reader of this story, has your fare been paid? Have you accepted the great salvation which God freely offers to you?
ML 10/17/1954