Two little boys were fishing from the riverbank. Accidentally they both fell into the water. A young man who was fishing nearby dived in after them. He was not a very good swimmer, but he managed to bring both the youngsters to the bank safely. He then found himself in difficulties. Weighed down with water-soaked clothing and exhausted by his struggle to save the boys, the steep, slippery bank of the river was too much for him, and he soon slipped back into the water and was drowned.
A few days later the two little boys stood close to the coffin at the cemetery. When the funeral was over, the father of the young man who had died in saving them came over to the two little boys. Bending down, he gave each one a kiss and prayed God’s blessing upon them.
A Christian who was to preach the gospel that evening was present. That night, standing before his audience he said, “Today I saw something I have never seen before. A father kissed two boys who had caused the death of his son.”
He went on to tell them about the funeral. “And,” he said, “that is what God in His great love is doing now, kissing any who come to Him believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, in spite of the fact that they were the cause of the death of His Son.”
One man in the audience, one with a very bad reputation, came up to the preacher after the meeting and asked, “Does God kiss all repentant ones like that?”
“Yes,” the preacher replied, “if they come to Him in faith, believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, they will receive pardon, peace and blessing.”
He answered, “I will come to Him right now!”
If your decision is the same, you will know forgiveness and learn the joy of the Father’s kiss.