WHAT delight a piece of chalk seems to afford to many of the poorer boys in the streets of the cities.
The happy possessor of a suitable portion of the white material seems, however poor, ragged, and hungry he may be, to forget his sorrows and sufferings whilst he sketches on boards, or writes upon the pavement. Then if some, comrade appear, it is probable he may be the subject upon which the fortunate owner of the chalk may print the word “DUNCE.”
I suppose I have seen that word written upon the backs of boys scores of times, but I never yet knew of a single boy taking off his coat and writing upon it so that DUNCE might be conspicuous upon his own back to all who came near.
Many of older years write, not with a piece of chalk, but with the tongue, the word SINNER,
upon neighbors or relatives, but never until they are brought to see themselves in the presence of God, will they write on their backs, as it were, that terrible word.
The Pharisee, of whom our Lord tells us, who went up into the temple to pray, thanked God he was not like other men. The poor publican, or tax-gatherer, seems to have forgotten all around him in the sense of his need of forgiveness, and cried, “God be merciful to me, the sinner.”
“Dunce” is often written upon those who do not in the least merit such a title, and of whom the word is not true.
“Dunce,” if written with chalk can be easily got rid of. Frequently it is wiped off by a friendly coat-sleeve; at other times a brush soon removes the unpleasant word, and the trouble is over, and the matter soon forgotten.
“Sinner” is not, however, thus easily erased. Indeed, of ourselves it were impossible to remove it; but, blessed news, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” “While we were yet sinners Christ died for us,” and thus the very name “sinner” becomes a title to enjoy the wonderful salvation provided for sinners by the work of the Lord Jesus on the cross.
Sometime since I was sitting beside an anxious hearer of God’s glad tidings, who had remained after the preaching to speak with me. Turning to 1 Timothy 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15), we slowly read together the verse: “This-is-a-faithful-saying,—and—worthy of-all—acceptation,—that—Christ—Jesus came-into-the-world-to-save-sinners; of whom I am chief.” Turning to the inquirer, I asked, “What is your name?”
Without hesitation the reply was given, “Sinner! sir.”
In simplicity the blessed message was received, and peace and joy took the place of trouble and fears.
“Saint” is the new title given already to every believer on the Lord Jesus Christ. All those cleansed from their sins by His precious blood, and made nigh to God “in Him,” are taken out of their old position as “sinners” and given a new one as “saints in Christ Jesus,” and are called to speak and act suitably with such a place. They have their position by new birth, and should seek now to glorify God by walking worthy of their calling, as those who are “beloved of God, called saints.”
ML 08/23/1903