ONE day as I was walking from one town to another, I met two little girls coming home from school, and asked them if I was on the right road for G—. The elder of the two said,
“Yes, you are.”
Being struck by the bright, pleasant way she answered me, I offered her a little book, saying,
“Take it home to your parents and ask them to read it,” adding, “It is a great thing to be a Christian; do you know what a Christian is, my child?”
“Yes,” she said, in a very confident manner, “my father is a Christian.”
“Indeed,” I said, “I am very glad to hear it—but again I ask you, What is a Christian?”
Her reply was most unexpected, “A Christian is a man who neither swears nor drinks!”
I need not say I did not leave the little girl until I put before her what a Christian was—a man or woman or child who knew his or her sins were forgiven and who was born again.
Now, I fear there are thousands of so-called Christians in this land who, like this little girl, are trusting to their outward morality to bring them to God. We who read God’s Word know that we have to learn that we are guilty, lost sinners, and must look to “Jesus only” for salvation.
Outward morality, however good for this world, is not sufficient for the presence of a holy God.
“Without the shedding of blood there is no remission.” God said long ago,
“When I see the blood, I will pass over you.” “The blood maketh atonement for the soul.”
The blood in all its solitary dignity, has settled the question between God and the sinner forever.
“Cleansed by the blood of Jesus,
Clean in God’s holy sight;
Jesus can make the vilest,
Whiter than snow tonight.”
Then there will be seen by everyone, the results of this cleansing in an entirely changed and godly life.
O! children, seek the Saviour now, —
The Saviour full of love;
And when He comes, He’ll take you up
To His bright home above.
ML 11/20/1927