He was only seven years old. He spoke of mercy and grace; of faith in God as his only foundation for his hope of going to be with the Lord Jesus, who died for him. Being visited about this time by an unconverted relative of mature years, who asked him how he was, when he answered that he was very happy, though sick in body, that his faith in the Lord Jesus kept him happy.
“I can’t make you out. How do you get the faith you speak about?” his relative asked.
“O,” said Charley, “God gave it to me.” “Well,” said his relative, “I don’t understand; what’s it like?”
“O,” replied Charley, “it’s just like this: s’pose you was upstairs and you made a hole in the ceiling and spoke to me through the hole, and told me, up there was better than down here, and that you had some beautiful things up there for me, if I was to come it should want to come, shouldn’t I?”
“Well, yes, I dare say you would; but how would you know I had the things I spoke of?” he asked.
“Well,” replied the child, “I should be sure to know you were there when I heard you speak.”
That’s what faith is BELIEVING GOD’S WORD WHEN HE SPEAKS, without seeing the things He promises. And God does make a good many holes and speaks to a great many people, only they pay no attention, and if they do hear, they want to see the things first, but that’s not faith.
Reader, have you faith as this little child? Do you believe in the name of the only begotten Son of God? Hear the words of the Lord Jesus Himself,
“Verily, Verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24).
Have you passed from death unto life? If so, you are happy, you are safe for all eternity, for your life is hid with Christ in God, a safe hiding place indeed.
ML 04/26/1936