The Text That Mabel Found in the Bible

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A young girl sat with a big Family Bible open before her on the table. Her parents were out at the Service in one of the village churches, and she was occupying that quiet hour of the Sunday evening, searching for texts in connection with her Bible Class Lesson of that afternoon. The teacher had asked each of the members to write out, in their own words, a simple essay on “Eternal Life,” and bring it the following Lord’s Day. Mabel was reckoned to be a well-informed girl and well up in Bible knowledge.
Her parents were pious people, and the Bible was read in their home. But so far as having in personal possession “the free gift of God, which is Eternal Life” (Rom. 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)), and living in the daily enjoyment of it, they seem to have not only been in ignorance of, but in opposition to it. They had been taught that “a good hope” is all that any can have here, and that the “day of judgment” will tell who are “worthy to be in heaven,” and who are lacking. Alas! for those who have no better ground for their hope of heaven than their own “worthiness.”
When Mabel’s parents returned, she told them of her search for texts, and said, “I found one that I never saw in the Bible before. It was this,
But I don’t know what to say about it, for I do not ‘know’ that I HAVE that eternal life, and this verse says that those that believe ‘may know that they HAVE it.’”
Mabel’s parents were manifestly pelexed at that saying. They had never noticed that verse in the Book, or like many, never really believed what it says. Mabel asked a schoolmate during the week what she was writing about it, to which the answer was given,
“I am saying that Eternal Life is God’s free gift unto all, and that all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ have it and know they have it, because God’s Word says so. And I am going to add ‘I have it, and have had it, since last New Year’s Day.’”
That last statement caused Mabel to ask her schoolmate how she got it, and the grand result was that Mabel became one who “received” Christ, as John 1:1212But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12) puts it, and in Him she now has “eternal life” (Rom. 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)).
“As many as received Him (the Lord Jesus Christ), to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name.” John 1:1212But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12).
ML 09/09/1945