Stewart and Willie were schoolboys. They walked to and from school together. and often spent the evenings with each other. I met the two boys one night at the close of a children’s meeting. Stewart was sitting close to the wall, looking so serious that I was certain something was troubling him. Sitting down by his side I asked,
“Well, Stewart, is your soul saved yet? Can you look forward to being with Jesus in that bright and happy home where they see His face?” He raised his head, and with such an earnest look, his big blue eyes peering into mine, he slowly replied, “I cannot say that, Sir; but I would like to be saved, and I have been trying all I can since last Friday night.”
“And what have you been doing, Stewart?” I asked.
“When I went home from the meeting last Friday, I told my parents I would like to be saved, and they told me if I was good, and did what I was bidden, and kept God’s commandments, I would be saved, and get to heaven. They said that was in the Bible, Sir; and so Willie and I have made up our minds to do this, and we will try and live as well as we can for the time to come,” answered the boy.
The decided manner in which the little fellow spoke, left no doubt in my mind that he was really in earnest about his salvation. But it was sad to think he had been put on the wrong track by those who were entirely mistaken, and that they had told little Stewart what was not true. There is no part of the Bible that says boys and girls will get to heaven if they are “good” and “keep the commandments.” But I’ll tell you what it does say. It says, “There is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Romans 3:1212They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (Romans 3:12). Everyone has broken the commandments, and all are therefore under the curse. Just read Romans 3:9-199What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17And the way of peace have they not known: 18There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. (Romans 3:9‑19), and Gal. 3:1010For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. (Galatians 3:10), and you will see.
When I told the dear boy this, his blue eyes filled with tears, and he sobbed bitterly. After all his reformation, he saw that he was unfit for heaven, and could not go there.
“And what, then, shall we do, Sir?”
“You can do nothing, Stewart, because you are helpless sinners. But if you and Willie come close, I will let you read in my Bible what Jesus has done for you.”
The boys drew near, and we turned and read,
“He was wounded for our transgreions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:55But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5). This tells about the sufferings of Jesus, when He died on the cross for sinners.
“Now all this was for lost sinners,” I said, “and He suffered and died that they might go free. I am saved by His work, and not by mine. Do you believe that Jesus died for you?”
“Yes, I do, for I am a sinner.” “Well, now, let us see what Jesus says of those that believe.” We turned to John 6:4747Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. (John 6:47). There Jesus says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.”
“What does He say you have, Stewart?”
“Everlasting life, everlasting life,” said the boy, and the cloud passed from his face as he said it.
I thought it best to leave the Word of God with the two boys, and not to press them to say they believed.
Next evening, a good while before meeting time, my two little friends were there. I asked Stewart how it stood with him now.
“Saved, Sir, saved, and Willie here, too. He saw it first, and we are both happy now.”
The two boys, now little soldiers of Jesus Christ, go on rejoicing in Him as their Saviour.
ML 06/03/1956