Johnnie Leary

 
While visiting in a country district in the north of Ireland, a friend of mine came to a cottage where there lived a poor boy about twelve years old, just recovering from a severe attack of fever. In the course of conversation my friend asked if he attended school when he was well.
“Yes, sir,” was the reply.
“What do you read at school, Johnnie?”
“The Testament, sir.”
“What does the Testament speak about?”
“About Jesus, sir.”
“What did Jesus come into the world to do?”
“To die, sir.”
“For whom did Jesus die?”
“For GOOD PEOPLE, sir.”
“Good people, Johnnie?”
“Yes, sir.”
“And are you good?”
Shaking his head, the little fellow replied, “No, sir.”
Opening his Bible at 1 Tim. 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15), my friend asked him to read it. Taking the book in his hand, the boy slowly read the grand old verse, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save...”; then, pausing, he looked more closely at the scripture, and then gazed in astonishment into my friend’s face.
“Well, Johnnie, was it good people that Jesus came to save?” The tears started in the boy’s eyes, his face brightened up, and he replied, “No, sir; SINNERS, sir.”
“Yes,” said the servant of God, “the Good One died for us, the bad ones.” Thus Johnnie Leary was led to see that it was for his SINS that Jesus had bled, and died; and by believing on Him he had everlasting life. (John 3:16, 3616For 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)
36He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36).)
Dear young reader, have you been under the impression that God only loves good people? Perhaps you have been told that God would not love you if you were bad, and that it was only “good people” He loves. As you have grown older you have not got rid of the thought, and even now, it may be you believe that it is only “good people” who are the objects of His love. If so, dear young friend, do not be deceived. GOD LOVES YOU AS YOU ARE, AND WHERE YOU ARE. While hang your sin with a perfect hatred, He loves your soul. Does a mother love her boy when he is disobedient and naughty? To be sure she does. Notwithstanding God loved you so MUCH that He gave His only begotten Son to die for you. The Lord Jesus loved you so much that He GAVE HIMSELF a ransom for your soul’s deliverance (1 Tim. 2:4-64Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. (1 Timothy 2:4‑6)). It was not for “good people” Jesus died. It was for SINNERS.
“If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, THOU SHALT BE SAVED.” Rom. 10:99That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9). Could anything be simpler than that?
ML 08/02/1959