BILL BAKER was walking slowly along a forest path in faraway India. It was a Sunday afternoon, and Bill, who was a bright Christian, was thinking of the Lord Jesus, and of the happy times that he had often shared with his Christian friends back in England.
All at once he came to a little clearing in the bush, and there he found a group of children, all sitting on the ground and diligently repeating words that a teacher was saying to them. Presently, the teacher held a wooden idol in front of the children, and at once every head was bowed to the ground, and there was complete silence. Not one child stirred, and not even a whisper broke the stillness. They had been taught that this was one of their gods, and they must worship it.
Bill turned away sad at heart. "All that reverence for nothing but a piece of wood," he said to himself.
Some months later, Bill Baker was back home in England, and again he was taking a walk on a warm Sunday afternoon. His walk took him to Sunday school, where he had often had the joy of telling the dear boys and girls of the love of the Lord Jesus. He was delighted to find a good crowd of lively boys and girls, and they joined heartily in the singing of some hymns and choruses. Then a gentleman stood up and said, "Let us pray."
What do you suppose happened? Some of the children bowed their heads and were silent at once. Others closed their eyes for a moment, and then when they thought nobody was looking, they opened them again, and a bit of whispering began. Before the prayer was over, there were very few children who were still sitting silently with their eyes closed.
Mr. Baker had noticed all this, and when the gentleman said "Amen," he stood up and called for silence.
"Boys and girls," he began, "a few months ago I was walking along a path in India . . ." Then he told them just what he had seen and of the silent reverence of those boys and girls in the presence of their wooden idol. "And I am afraid," he went on, "that you have forgotten that God is watching every boy and girl here this afternoon. Many of you were looking around and whispering while this gentleman was praying, and this was not at all reverent. The Bible tells us 'Thou God seest me' and I want you to remember that always."
Then the children went to their classes, and with sober faces and silent lips, they sat and heard once again the precious story of God's wondrous love. For remember, that although God sees you and me, and knows everything that we have said and done, He loves us more than we can ever know. He hates our sins, but He waits to wash away every sin by the precious blood of His own dear Son.
"The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1: 7.
Messages of the Love of God 3/23/1958