You will not be long, Freddy?” said Mrs. S. to her little boy, one fine day, as she sent him out for an errand.
“No, mother,” replied the boy, “I shall soon be back,” and, kissing his mother, he went away, delighted at the thought of being allowed to do something for mother.
Mrs. S. watched her little boy until he was out of sight, little thinking it would be the last time she should see her son alive.
But little Freddy, although he was a good boy when at home, forgot his last words, “I shall soon be back,” and, instead of doing what his mother had bidden him, went near the river—which he had been especially told not to do—and, seeing some planks on the water, thought he would go on them, and have a nice game.
For a few moments all went on pleasantly, and the little boy amused himself very much. But while Freddy was on the planks, a steamboat passed up the river, and its swell tossed the planks about, and Freddy fell into the water.
Two little boys saw him fall into the water, but they could not save him, and before help could come, poor little Freddy was drowned.
If on that Monday morning you had said to him, “Freddy, you will die today,” he would probably have replied, “I am young and healthy, and hope to live a good many years yet.”
A little act of disobedience took him into eternity. You, too, are young, strong and gay, but remember how uncertain is your life, and let me affectionately ask you, “If God were to take you away today, where would you spend eternity?”
You and I deserved to be banished from God’s presence, for we have disobeyed God, but Christ died on the cross so that “whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16).)
Come, then, to Christ while you are young, for God says,
If you are not ready to meet God, do not rest until you know that you are.
ML 07/26/1931