“I would like to be a Christian I too, Mother, same as Katie,” said Timmy, “but I’m afraid I might not be real.”
Timmy had come home from the gospel meeting which had been an unusually solemn one, and was sitting thoughtfully in the parlor beside his mother and sister.
Katie had been converted a few weeks before, and was now a very happy girl. Mother had known the Lord and followed him for many years, but Father had gone on home to heaven. Timmy was the only one of the little family circle yet unsaved, and he felt it very keenly. He was a gentle, obedient boy, a real comfort to his mother, yet it was a burden on her heart that he was unconverted to God. Timmy knew well that he was a sinner and needed the Saviour, but he feared, as he said, that he might profess to belong to Jesus and then go back to the world.
To add to these fears, there were several boys of his own age who had professed to be converted some time before, but now they seemed to act worse than ever. The devil uses such cases to stumble and hinder those who are truly seeking the way of life.
Timmy’s mother tried to show him clearly from God’s word that all who trust in Christ Jesus are “kept” as well as saved (Rom. 1:1616For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)) by “the power of God.” (1 Peter 1:55Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:5)). He seemed to grasp the meaning of the word “kept.” Said he, “That’s just what I need. I have been anxious many a time at nights, but when I thought of trusting myself to Jesus, the thought would come to me, ‘What about tomorrow?’ when I remembered I had to go to school and the boys would laugh at me, I thought it was no use, I could never stand it.”
“But you see, Timmy dear,” said Mother, “It is not your strength, but God’s, and the question is, will His power be sufficient to keep you cleaving to the Lord, and following Him?”
“Yes, I see that now,” said Timmy. Then the cloud passed from his brow. That night Timmy passed from darkness to light, and was truly converted. He trusted himself to Jesus, for today, tomorrow, and all along, and has proved since that Jesus is both able to save and to keep. Often he has been tempted by sinful boys to leave the “paths of righteousness,” and to sin against God, but in these moments of trial, he has trusted the Lord and sought to obey His word, which says, “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.” Proverbs 1:1010My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. (Proverbs 1:10). God has preserved him and kept him.
Dear boys and girls, perhaps some of you find yourselves in the same difficulty as Timmy—afraid to face tomorrow, but you need not. Jesus is a daily Saviour and Keeper for all who trust Him. Trust Him now for your soul’s salvation, and He will keep you forever.
ML 06/27/1965