In a country village schoolroom, an earnest Christian lady—a farmer’s dattg-hftef —had a class of little girls on the Lord’s-day afternoons. She was much beloved by the children, and God had used her in leading not a few of them to the Savionr in their very early days.
A tiny girl, named Nellie, was one of that little class, and she, although only six years old, was a decided Christian. I do not mean by this, that she said she was a Christian, but her happy look, her quiet peaceful spirit, and her Christ-like ways, all proved that Nellie was in reality one of the lambs of the Good Shepherd’s flock. She was a very delicate child, and one afternoon the tidings were brought to the teacher, by another of the little girls, that Nellie was ill and unable to attend. For many weary days and nights her illness continued, until the Lord took her away to be with Himself.
During the time of her illness, many of her little companions and schoolmates called to see her, and to everyone of them she had a message. Lying on a couch, with her Bible by her side, she would read to them “the precious verse that led her to trust in Jesus,” as she called John 3:16,16For 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) “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, bur have everlasting life.”
A little companion called on a Lord’s-day afternoon, on her way home from the class, and was sitting by her side. Stretching out her pale wasted hand, Nellie tenderly said,
“Jeanie, would you like to be me?” The little girl blushed, and said,
“Not if you’re going to die, Nellie I wouldn’t like to die yet.” Grasping her hand, and with a look of intense earnestness, she said,
“O, Jeanie, if you’re afraid to die, it’s maybe because you don’t know Jesus. I was once afraid to die too, but I’m not now. Ever since I trusted Jesus and was saved, I have been so happy at the thought that I might be allowed to go Home, and now, Jeanie, ‘I’m going Home to die no more.’”
At this, Jeanie fairly broke down and cried, and the dear dying child sought to comfort her by pointing her to the One who passed through death and judgment, to redeem and save her.
A few more weeks of happy testimony for Jesus, and dear Nellie passed away. Her last song on earth, and almost her last words were, “I’m not afraid to die;
I’m going Home to die no more.”
And thus it is with all who are in Christ. They go to that blessed, happy Home, to be with Christ, and He will welcome them there. They go up to that fair paradise, where there is no more death, but where all is life, and unfading, undying joy with Jesus and His ransomed saints.
Dear boys and girls, will you be there? Can you say, with happy Nellie, “I’m going Home to die no more?”
ML 02/27/1944