Most people reading this know what the first four words in the Bible are—“In the beginning God....” Genesis 1:11In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1). It puts God first—in the very first verse of the first chapter of the first book in the Bible. It is good when we live our life putting God first.
Some years ago there was a boy whose name was Jimmy Beattie. Jimmy was in kindergarten and was so happy when he finally learned to print not only his first name, but his second name correctly. It had taken lots of practice, with backward B’s and e’s, only one t, and the e and a reversed. But he had finally gotten it right and was so happy to be able to print it for his dad.
The first word a child learns to print is usually his own name. To be able to spell his own name is the most important thing in the world to a child. Jimmy’s daddy knew this and he was happy for his son. But he also wanted him to learn something more than just letters and words. He wanted him to know God and His Son, the Lord Jesus, as his Saviour and to put Him first in his life.
Is the Lord Jesus first in your life? Do you know Him as your own Saviour? Many of you children have fathers and mothers, uncles and aunts, and others praying for you, that you will accept Christ. Some of you have memorized Bible verses and sung gospel songs in Sunday school. Your parents read the Bible and pray with you every day. But, are you saved? Have you put Christ first?
Soon after Jimmy had learned to print his name, his daddy went into the garden and wrote “J-I-M-M-Y B-E-A-T-T-I-E” in the garden in big letters. He planted some flower seeds in the furrows he had made forming each letter. Then he cored them over and smoothed out the soil. But he did not tell Jimmy what he had done.
About two weeks later Jimmy came running in the house calling, “Daddy, Daddy, my name is coming up in the garden!” He could read it and it was like a miracle to him. His daddy tried not to show any surprise and asked Jimmy if he were sure. Jimmy insisted and finally took his daddy’s hand and said, “Come and see.” Sure enough, there in the garden in big green letters was his name, and Jimmy could spell it out letter by letter: “J-I-M-M-Y B-E-A-T-T-I-E.”
But his daddy still did not seem to be surprised and said, “There is nothing strange about this. It just grew this way.”
“No, it couldn’t,” insisted Jimmy. “It couldn’t just grow by itself!”
“Oh, you’re right,” replied his daddy. “It couldn’t just grow by itself. Now I will tell you. I planted the seeds in the garden myself.”
Then Jimmy’s daddy explained how God had given Jimmy to him and his mother and they very much wanted Jimmy to learn to love God like they did. The flower seeds that were planted had to die first, and then new life came from them. The Lord Jesus had to die first also, so that He could give new life to all who would believe in Him. That new life could belong to Jimmy Beattie if Jimmy would just accept the Lord Jesus as his Saviour.
Jimmy’s daddy again told him about the love of God in sending the Lord Jesus to die for sinners. On the cross He was punished for the sins of all who would accept Him as their Saviour.
Yes, God loves little children more than He cares for flowers, trees, mountains or stars. He wants every child to be saved—to have the new life that only can be gotten by accepting His Son the Lord Jesus as their Saviour. Won’t you accept Him as your Saviour and put Him first in your life?
ML-09/09/1984