A FEW years ago I was staying at the seaside with five boys. I longed to see them saved. I knew we should soon have to be separated, and I thought, possibly, we might never meet again, so I read God’s word to the lads, and explained it to them. One at least of them I had good hope did love Christ, and it occurred to me to have a little talk with each one separately on the evening before I left them and to ask each pointedly if he were saved.
So I began with the eldest. He told me he was saved, and in response to very close questioning he gave me to believe the reality of his confession. The next was self-righteous—he was full of his own goodness—so I had to rebuke him by telling him Christ came not to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance. The third seemed broken-hearted, but there was, I fear, no reality in his case. The fourth surprised me, for I did not expect such earnestness from him. He was most solemn and real, and said he was saved; he wished to show his colors, and asked me if he might walk with me the next day, and buy some texts for his bedroom walls, to put them there when he returned home. The fifth was light and indifferent. So we parted.
About a year afterwards I saw all these dear boys again, and found that two of them were really living for Christ. They have been a great blessing to many of their schoolfellows and companions, and one of them has had the joy of seeing his brothers saved. God’s precious word, wherever it is received into the heart, brings forth fruit to His glory.
Older Christians should not be so slow in speaking of God’s beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to children. Youth is the age, of all others, in which the truth is most readily received. Even if it does not spring up for years, it is often sown on good ground when we do not know it. We are responsible to God to sow the precious seed. He will water it, and cause it to grow.
How sweet to see the lambs of Christ’s flock praising Him! Some little time since I was one evening where a dear little boy of five years of age was singing—
“And such a cruel death He died—
He was hung up and crucified,
And those kind hands that did such good
They nailed them to a cross of wood.”
“Why did they kill Jesus like that?” he said.
“Because we are sinners,” I answered.
“But why did they nail him to the cross?” he continued.
“If He had not been nailed there, you and I could not go to heaven,” I answered, “for His blood washes away our sins.”
“But,” continued he, “I don’t see why they should kill Him so cruelly, for He looks so good.”
“What!” said I; “have you seen Him?” “Yes; up in heaven,” he answered.
God can reveal Himself to a dear child. Little do older people recognize what goes on in the heart of a child—how that the Lord Jesus speaks to children, and fits them for heaven.
ML 08/27/1916