BENNIE was considered “simple” by the villagers. He certainly had not much of the wisdom of the world, but he knew what many of the wise and great of earth know not—God’s salvation. Bennie was a peddler, and as he was on his rounds one day, he called at a blacksmith’s shop, where a number of loiterers usually were found.
“How do you know the Bible is true, Bennie?’ asked one who stood by the smithy fire. “Because it’s God’s Book,” answered the simple lad. “But how do you know that what it says is true?” asked another, for they were eager to get Bennie into an argument. “I know that God always speaks the truth. When He told me that Jesus died for sinners, I believed Him, and when He said, ‘Come unto Me and I will give you rest,’ I just came to Him, and I got it. When he said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you’ll be saved,’ I believed, and He saved me.” There was no further question put to the simple lad; His faith was firm in the Word of God. Standing there, neither men nor demons can move the believer.
So Bennie went on His way, clinging to the Word of God, which can never be broken, can never fail. Men trust one another; they believe what one another says, in the market, on the exchange, at the counter. Sometimes they are disappointed, for some do not keep their promise; others who may be willing are not able. But the God on whose Word the believing sinner relies, the eternal God, is both able and willing to perform His Word. He is worthy of your trust; for as Bennie the peddler truly declared, “God always speaks the truth.” This is true alike in grace and in judgment. If God says, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life” (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)), it is absolutely true; he has it. Equally true it is, that if God says, “He that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:1616He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mark 16:16)), the unbeliever’s damnation is sure. What say you to this, reader? Are you a believer in the Lord Jesus? Have you taken God’s Word for your guide, your authority in things relating to salvation? You will never get anything more sure, more reliable. Men may fail, but “God who cannot lie,” never fails. As the peddler lad truly said, “God always speaks the truth,” and what He says is found in His written Word.
“There, is a Book, a holy Book,
By God to sinners given,
To show the way of life and peace,
And mark the path to heaven.”
ML 11/12/1916