LITTLE A―was not yet five years old, but young as she was the depravity of the heart of man could be traced in her. Man’s desire is to get away from God, and keep away from Him. So in the case of little A —, she could not bear the thought of the Lord’s coming, and when it was mentioned to her, she would cry and say, “I would rather stay here!” and would not leave this and that thing which she valued. She was content with things down here; and, more than that, she was content with herself. Why was this? Because the light had not shone in so as to expose everything in true colors to her. She would not admit that she was a sinner; she did not think she needed a Saviour. She knew Christ died for sinners, but was not conscious of her need. Those who loved her tried to make her see her unfitness for God’s presence, and that sooner or later she must be there exposed to the all-seeing eye of God, who is light.
The Lord in His mercy brought this dear little one into the light of His presence at an early age, and she discovered that she could not as she was be there in peace. She had gone to bed and to sleep, but soon woke up with the thought that the Lord was coming, and was in the greatest distress and anxiety of mind. Her father and mother went to her, thankful that she had been aroused to a sense of her state before God, manifested by her expression, “I cannot bear that great light.” Those were her words in the midst of her sobs. The light which is “above the brightness of the sun” had shone on her, exposing everything that could pass well enough in the darkness, and even appear nice to her. But God loved her, and was about to make Himself known to her in His character of love too. Her parents spoke of the One she could not bear to see as their best Friend, ―the One who loved them, and gave Himself for them. He had come down here to bleed on the cross, and die for sinners such as they were. They told her that He loved her too, and wanted her to be in His presence in perfect peace; and in virtue of what Christ had done on the cross of Calvary, she could be perfectly happy there. She was satisfied. She realized that the One who is “light, and in him is no darkness at all,” loved her, and she had peace. Soon after she went to sleep, ―no fear or dread; the perfect love of God had cast it out.
About eighteen months has passed since, but there is no cloud and no fear in the presence of “that great light.” She can, instead, show forth the praises of Him who has called her out of darkness into His marvelous light, and speak of the Lord’s coming with peace and joy. S. G.