FOUR boys are in the schoolroom, and it is time for their Scripture lesson. They open their Bibles at the second book of Kings, chapter 22, and commence to read.
At the end of the first verse the Christian governess quietly says, “Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he served the Lord ... ..I wonder when you boys will begin to serve the Lord?” After pondering these words for a long time, one of the boys formed a silent resolution. “Josiah was eight years old when he began to serve the Lord,” thought he; “I am not eight yet, only seven and a half; when I am eight, I, too, will begin to serve the Lord.”
Who put into his heart the determination to delay this great decision, and so cunningly used the very words of Scripture to enforce his argument? God says “Today,” but the devil says “Tomorrow.”
Four and a half years pass away. Two of the boys are in the garden. They are twin brothers, and one of them has just returned from I., where services were being held in connection with the Children’s Mission. A new joy has come into his life, for at one of the services he gave his heart to the Lord Jesus Christ. How greatly he desires that his brother may know the same Saviour. So, as they stroll side by side in the garden, he turns to him and shyly says, “When I was at I., I gave my heart to the Lord Jesus. Won’t you come to Him, too?”
But the boy, who four years ago made up his mind that when he was eight years of age he would come to the Saviour, now got angry, and said, “It is very wicked of you to talk about such things; you ought never to speak about that kind of thing.” His brother persisted, and spoke of the happiness that now was his, and pleaded with him to come to Christ. At length, exasperated, and fighting still against the Holy Spirit, the angry boy struck his brother in the face. Contrary to expectation, and perhaps for the first time, that blow was not returned.
Only a few weeks passed away, and this boy, with his heart still unchanged, was himself journeying to I. for a holiday.
A lady got into the train in which he was traveling, and as soon as the train started she began to speak to him. After a while she plainly put the question, “Have you come to Jesus?” The boy turned his face to the window, and made no answer, and the lady was unable to get any further response from him.
He reached the house of his grandfather where lived a Christian aunt. He determined that under no circumstances would he allow himself to be alone with her, if he could help it, so greatly afraid was he that she would ask him the question he so little wanted to hear. He knew now that God was calling to him, but he did not wish to come. He could not exactly tell you why. He wanted to go his own way and not to be bothered about these things.
A wet evening set in, and he wandered about the corridors of the house and into the conservatory, reluctant to enter the dining room where his aunt sat at her work. But when at last he did go in, sure enough, before long she looked up, and said, “When your brother was here last month he went to the children’s meetings that were being held, and before he left he gave his heart to the Lord Jesus Christ. He was so happy, and seemed to enjoy the services more than anything else. You do not seem very happy. When are you going to ... ..? The boy would hear no more, rushed to his bedroom, and threw himself upon the bed. “Why won’t these people leave me alone?” he said. It is impossible to describe the fierce struggle that followed. To the bitter cry, “Why won’t they leave me alone?” echo seemed to answer, “Why not come now?”
Long into the night the fight went on. “Why not” seemed to get more loud and clear, and every excuse suggested by the devil was more and more unsatisfactory.
Why not come to the Lord Jesus? Why not? Why not now?
About midnight the boy got out of bed and kneeled at the bedside, while the tears streamed down his cheeks. In simplest language he told the Lord Jesus that he will come to Him now. Only a boy of twelve years, and there was no one there to see, and no one to hear—no one but Jesus.
He spoke peace to the young heart, and gave the assurance that his sins were forgiven. The earlier part of the night was spent in anguish of soul, and in struggling against God; the latter part was spent in joy and gladness, the long siege was over, the heart was surrendered, and the Lord Jesus Christ had taken possession of his own.
ML 02/14/1909