“CAN any of you boys and girls who are at school tell me what this globe represents?”
“The world,” says one little fellow. “Yes, the world, and these men of different colors, and different dresses, represent the various peoples of the world. Can any of you tell me how many persons there are supposed to be living in the world today?” Silence. “About three billion. What an enormous multitude.”
“Now I am going to ask you to give me two texts from the New Testament that both speak on the world. The first is about the gift that was sent to the world long ago, and the second is about the gospel, or good news that God wants to be sent all over the world now. Will someone repeat for me a well-known verse about the love gift?”
“I will,” said a little girl, and up she gets and repeats: “FOR 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 3:1616For 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).
“Yes, that’s right. Now let us see if we understand what this means. Whom did God love? The world. Yes, but what does that mean?”
“All the people that live on the earth,” says another little girl.
“Yes, all people—black people, yellow people, white people, and red people. All kinds of people. What a big world, and how great the heart of God must be to take them all in His love.
Well now, can anyone tell me what sort of people the people of the world are? Are they good, or bad?”
“Bad,” says a boy.
“All bad?” No answer. “What do you say there, little boy sitting in the front row? Can you give me a verse to tell us?” Silence.
“All the world... guilty before God.” (Rom. 3:1919Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. (Romans 3:19)). Oh yes, these are solemn words. All the world—French, British, Chinese, Americans, Indians, Russians — all guilty, none good, “no not one.” Romans 3. A world of guilty sinners yet all loved by God. How wonderful this is! He loves you; He loves me. How many of you can say, “We have known and believed the love that God hath to us.” 1 John 4:1616And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. (1 John 4:16).
But there is another very solemn word about “all the world.” It is this — “Satan, which deceiveth the whole world.” Revelation 12:99And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (Revelation 12:9). Think of that. Satan, the adversary, the enemy of God and man, going forth into all the world, its god and prince, blinding the minds of men, and children too, telling them that God does not love them, but He hates them. But Satan is a liar. Do you believe his lies? But would you not rather believe God? Believe that He loves you and that Christ died for you, and you will be saved.
There is another verse, the last of the four, about the world and the good news. Can you repeat it? “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:1515And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15). That’s it. To all the world—China, Japan, India, South America, Newfoundland. To every creature—black, white, red, copper-colored: even cannibal, religious, all must hear the good news. It is the word of the Lord Jesus, but who is to carry it? Angels? No! Men and women, boys and girls, those who have believed the wonderful message and are saved; they are the ones the Lord uses to tell the wondrous story.
Dear young Christian, begin at home. “All the world” includes the boys and girls who live in your street, who go to the same school as you do.
ML-12/13/1964