AT the age of three years Joe was a dear little fellow, so merry and so full of life that it was sometimes hard to keep him quiet.
One day his mother said to him, “Joey, I am going to the gospel meeting in the country and I would like to take you, but I’m afraid you couldn’t sit long enough.” With a pleading look little Joe replied, “You just try me this vonce.” The next day they were both on their way to the country, and during the meetings the little boy did not forget that he must sit quietly. Afterward a kind old gentleman took him up in his arms, exclaiming, “What a good little boy you have been, Joey.” This encouraged Joe and he turned to his mother triumphantly, “There, Muvver, didn’t I tell truf (truth)?”
Before parting, they sang the well-known hymn:
Here we suffer grief and pain,
Here we meet to part again,
In heaven we part no more.
O that will be joyful,
Joyful, joyful, joyful;
O that will be joyful,
When we meet to part no more.
These words evidently made quite an impression on little Joe’s mind. The next day, while playing in the garden, he ran indoors to his mother and said, “Muvver, that man did say, ‘In heaven we part no more.’”
“Yes,” said Mother, “and if you like I will sing you the verse.” He listened very attentively to the words and then asked, ‘If I love Jesus, should I go to heaven if I were to die?”
“Yes, dear,” Mother replied, “because Jesus loves you and died for you.”
“But does Jesus love me when I’m naughty?”
“Yes, Jesus always loves you, but He does not love naughty ways. He wants us for Himself, but He must first put away our sins.”
Satisfied with this, the little fellow ran away to play, leaving his mother to ponder over his words. She was glad to think that though he was so young in years, he was aware that he had a naughty heart, but she wondered what had raised the thought of dying in his baby mind.
Only a few days later her little one became suddenly ill, and after suffering for three days, Jesus took him to be with Himself, where there is no more grief and pain.
Those who loved little Joe and wept at losing him, were greatly comforted as they recalled the words: “In heaven we part no more.” They knew their little lamb was safe in the Good Shepherd’s keeping. Did He not say on earth, “Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God”? Mark 10:1414But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. (Mark 10:14).
It was in order that He might have us in that bright glory with Himself that Jesus died for us. Was it not wonderful love that led Him to take the place that we deserved and suffer on the Cross?
ML-03/01/1964