I had a young friend called Harold (this was his real name). One summer I was staying in the house where he lived with his parents, his brother George, and his sisters.
One morning at breakfast Harold announced that his school, was holding the annual athletic sports that day, and asked me if I would come and see them.
“Certainly I will,” I replied; “are you taking any part?”
“O, yes,” said my young friend, “I am running in the hundred-yards race, and in the quarter-mile handicap. I’m pretty sure to win that. Come early, and see the prizes before the sports begin.”
Early in the afternoon I went with two or three of Harold’s sisters to the sports field. He himself was too excited to wait for us, but we found him there when we arrived.
He took us first to see the prizes. A fine silver watch was the prize for the winner of the quarter-mile handicap,—his prize, as my young friend assured me.
The time for this race soon came. The runners took their places. Harold, though younger than some, was a strong, sturdy boy, and was considered about the best. He certainly ran well. But so did some of the other boys, with the result that neither the first prize nor the second fell to the lot of my particular friend. He was evidently disappointed. He had set his heart on getting that watch.
Now it happened that shortly afterwards Harold’s birthday cane round. And his father’s present to him on this occasion was a handsome silver watch, very similar to the one he did not win! He got as a free gift what he was unable to obtain as a prize.
This is like God’s salvation, boys. Remember that you cannot win it, earn it, nor deserve it. It is not given as a prize. It is offered as a free gift. “Whosoever will” may accept it.
When we have accepted it as God’s gracious gift to us, then, and not before, we have a race to run and a prize to win. Rewards are to be given to those who are trite and faithful.
But salvation is not a reward; heaven is not a reward; forgiveness is not a reward. If we expect to get them by trying to do what we should, we shall be disappointed, as Harold was. But if we put our trust in the blessed Saviour, we shall not be disappointed. For God gives all these things freely to whoever trusts in Him.
ML 08/20/1939