Charlie was excited. His mother had been busy making a new pair of trousers for him, and he was so eager about it that he loved to sit and watch her work.
As he sat by her side, he held in his hand a book called “Peep of Day.” His dear mother had given him the book, and although he could not read, he loved to look at the pictures and to remember the stories that his mother had told him about Jesus and His wonderful love. There was one picture which he never tired of seeing. It was of a kind shepherd, holding in his arms a weary little lamb.
At last the new trousers were ready, and although it was time to go to bed, Charlie was so excited that he just had to put them on and look at himself in the mirror. He was so thrilled that he didn’t want to take them off again, and get to bed. Carefully he laid them out beside the bed, all ready for the morning. Then he carefully folded his old ones, and said that he wished to give them to Freddie, a school friend who was very poor.
The next morning Mother went into his room to call him.
“Mother! I’m not going to get up today.”
Surprised at his laziness she said, “But, Charlie, remember those new trousers.”
“Yes, Mother, but I won’t need them in heaven, and I’m going to heaven today. Jesus has called me and said, ‘Charlie, come home.’”
The surprised mother did not know what to do, for Charlie looked so well. But to please him she brought his breakfast up to his room and let him eat his breakfast in bed. Soon he began to doze and to talk in his sleep, asking again and again for his favorite picture. They looked in his book, but the page was gone! Very soon, Charlie’s mother saw that her little boy was going to leave her, and more and more his little wandering mind spoke of Jesus whom he was soon to see.
By three o’clock that afternoon, Charlie was with Jesus.
With many tears, those new trousers were folded and made ready to be taken, along with his old ones, to his friend Freddie. And there in the pocket of his old trousers, they found the treasured picture, carefully folded, and ready for Freddie to enjoy!
Did you ever think, as you laid out your clothes for tomorrow morning, that you might open your eyes in eternity, and not in your own little bedroom? God wants, you to be ready now, for Jesus may soon call you away, and then how wonderfully happy it all will be if you truly belong to Him. Come now, for He says, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37).
“Tomorrow’s sun may never rise,
Upon thy long deluded sight.
This is the time, O then be wise,
Thou wouldst be saved—
Why not tonight?”
ML 06/27/1954