“A little child of seven,
Or even three or four,
May enter into Heaven,
Through Christ, the Open Door,
For when the heart believeth,
On Christ the Son of God,
‘Tis then the soul receiveth
Salvation through His Blood.”
So sang the children in Jackie’s class at school, and such a favorite was this little hymn with Jackie, and so often did he ask for it, that the children had named it, “Jackie’s Hymn.”
Jackie was a bright little lad of seven tender years. His seat was a front one, an extra one, placed ahead of the others.
One Monday morning the little seat was empty. Jackie had been knocked down by a car while on a Saturday hike. So seriously was he injured that he lived but a few hours. How lonely looked the little, empty seat.
His classmates were all present at his funeral. After the service each child took a spray, or wreath of flowers to carry it to the waiting cars. As they lined up on the path they paused a moment and once more, on the quiet solemn air, Jackie’s Hymn rang out. With bowed heads the relatives and friends listened to the sweet refrain, telling of God’s full and free saation—free even to “a little child of seven, or even three or four.”
Today, Christ is the Open Door. He says,
Reader, have you by faith, entered this still Open Door, believing in your heart that Christ died for your sins? Soon this Open Door may close, then to those who knock, these solemn words will be uttered,
ML 09/27/1942