Father and Mother were out attending the Sunday Evening serce, and Mabel was busy at the kitchen table with her Bible and pencil and paper. That afternoon, her Sunday School teacher had asked each of the girls to write out, in their own words, a short paper on “Eternal Life.” They were to have it ready for class the next week, and Mabel was busy getting a good start.
The Bible was often read in Mabel’s home, and her parents went regularly to the Sunday services. There they were taught that if we live a good life, and read the Bible, that we may hope for eternal life, but that we must wait for the judgment day to see if we are really worthy of heaven.
When they came home this Sunday night, Mabel looked very puzzled. She told them of the search for verses about eternal life, and said, “I found one that I didn’t know was in the Bible, and I don’t know what to say about it. Listen to this, ‘These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life.’ 1 John 5:1313These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:13). I didn’t know before that the Bible said that anyone could KNOW they had eternal life, and I’m sure I don’t know whether I have it or not.”
Mabel’s parents were truly surprised. They each looked at the verse in turn and said nothing. At last Mabel said, “I’m going down the street to find Peggy Johnston, for I know she loves Jesus and reads her Bible. Maybe she can help me.”
Soon Mabel returned with Peggy, and showed her the verse. “I love that verse,” said Peggy. “And I know that I have eternal life, for I don’t dare doubt God’s Word. The Lord Jesus is my own Saviour, and it is through Him that I have been given God’s gift of eternal life. Let me find another verse here in Romans.” Quickly Peggy turned over the pages of the Book she loved so well, and asked Mabel to read Romans 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23).
Slowly and carefully, Mabel read aloud, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Mabel’s ready young heart quickly grasped the good news, and she turned to her father and mother who had been watching over her shoulder. “Isn’t this lovely!” she said, “God offers me the gift of eternal life, through the Lord Jesus, and then He tells me I may know that I have it too!”
That night, after Mabel had knelt and thanked God for the gift of His Son, the Lord Jesus, she added a few words to her paper on eternal life. She wrote these simple words, “I want to thank God that I know I have eternal life, through Jesus Christ my Lord.” Dear reader, how about you? It is either eternal life, or eternal judgment —eternal life if you accept the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, and eternal judgment if you do not. Why not be saved today?
ML 11/18/1951