A TEACHER in a large school was one day giving a lesson in geography to the class of the youngest boys. In the course of the lesson he had occasion to speak of the size and shape of the earth on which we live, its roundness like a ball or an orange, and of many other things which seem strange and wonderful to children.
At the close of the lesson, the teacher, in order to ascertain what his pupils had learnt, commenced to ask them about it.
The first few questions were answered very well, every boy seemed quite sure that the earth was round like an orange, but the next question caused a complete stop, and not a hand was seen uplifted to signal that a reply was forthcoming. The teacher had asked for a proof that the earth was round, and thirty or more busy brains were hard at work trying to solve the difficulty, and, win the honor of answering this puzzling query.
Again the question was put, “Now tell me how you know that the earth is round like an orange?” but still no answer, and whispers went from boy to boy that after all the teacher must be wrong, for did not the earth look quite flat? how could it then be a great round ball? Just, however, as the teacher was about to explain, a hand darted up from the middle of the class, and all eyes were turned upon. Tommy S—, a merry little fellow, whose face was all aglow with eagerness to give the answer. The teacher at once put the question, “Well, Tommy, how can you prove that the earth is round?” Tommy looked round in triumph on the rest of the class for a moment, and then answered, “Because you say so, sir.”
Now this was faith. Tommy believed that the earth was round, because his teacher said so, and he knew no better proof. He had faith in his teacher that he would not deceive him; his teacher’s word was enough, and Tommy rested satisfied.
And now I wonder how many of my young readers have exercised a simple faith like this little boy’s in the matter of their own soul’s salvation. How many boys and girls there are who will confess they are sinners, and as such unfit for the presence of God, and for heaven, and yet have never taken God at His word, He who declares that whosoever believeth in the Lord Jesus Christ, shall 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).
The writer knew a boy who was under deep conviction of sin, and earnestly desiring salvation. He needed no one to tell him what a sinner he was, he knew that full well, and had felt the weight of his sins for a long time. He would declare too that he believed Jesus bore the judgment due to his sins on the cross; but he could not say he was saved. Earnestly he prayed that God would show him where he fell short, and that He would remove the hindrance, so that he might have the joy, like others, of knowing that he was really and truly saved. Some days passed, however, and still he was as unhappy as ever, though continuing his praying, until at length light dawned in upon his soul, and he found out that he had never understood that little word trust. He had fallen short of faith.
When he simply believed in the Lord Jesus for his salvation all the clouds vanished, and he has known what true joy it ever since. What could give him greater happiness than to know now that Christ is his Saviour, God his Father, and Heaven his home.
ML 08/05/1906