When I was a boy, an old man frequently visited our village. At one time he had been in a prosperous way, but, becoming a slave to strong drink, he had lost a small fortune and with it many of his friends. Like the prodigal mentioned in the 15th chapter of Luke’s Gospel, when he spent his all in riotous living, he was forsaken, and disowned.
One day when this old man was walking along one of the streets of the village in a disconsolate mood, he was muttering to himself, “Nobody loves me! Nobody loves me!” A little girl who had been to Sunday school, and who had heard of the love of God, quietly stole up to him, and rather nervously pulling at the tail of his jacket said — “Yes, sir, somebody loves you: God loves you.”
Eternity will alone reveal the effect of this word “spoken in season.”
Did God really love this poor old man, broken and marred by sin? Most certainly, for does not John 3:1616For 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) say, “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life”? The old man was part of that world; you are part of it; so that God loved him, and God loves you, He proved His love in giving His Son to die on the Cross for you.
Have you responded to this love? Or are you still slighting it, giving no thought to “the wondrous cross, on which the Lord of glory died?” Friend, you would not treat your fellow-mortals as you are treating God, consider how you are acting towards God and the Lord Jesus Christ, and ask yourself if God will not be justified in punishing you for such indifference. Why not respond to God’s love by giving your heart to the Saviour and your redeemed life to His service? He is worthy.
ML 03/26/1961