HOW often one meets with what illustrates the truth contained in Matt. 21:16.
“Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise." And again, in Matt. 11:25, where the Lord thanks the Father, “because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes." The reason for this we find in 1 Cor. 1:27-29, "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are: that no flesh should glory in his presence.”
In 1 Cor. 3:18-20, there is a word of advice for the wise of this world they would do well to take: “If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God: for it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain." What is needed in the things of God, is the simplicity of a little child.
I heard lately of a dear boy, now with the Lord, who spoke as one taught by God (John 6:45). He suffered much during a lingering illness of more than a year, and some time before his death he was visited by a friend, one who loves the Lord. She read Rev. 20:11-15 to him, that wonderful chapter that tells of the time when Satan will be bound one thousand years in the bottomless pit,—his present activity for evil restrained; of how he will be loosed afterward for a little season, and will be finally cast into the lake of fire, and tormented day and night forever and ever. Instead of tormenting the lost, he will be tormented himself. It is important, too, to see that he has never yet been in hell, for once he goes to that place of punishment he will never get out.
It also tells of the two resurrections, with one thousand years at least between them; and of the great white throne and the judgment of the wicked dead, raised when time is ended and the earth and the heaven have fled away. It also tells how the books are opened, and the dead are judged out of the things which are written in the books, according to their works, and that whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Simple and plain as all this is to babes, it puzzles the wise of this world amazingly.
The two resurrections are beyond their "ken," and consequently how it is that only the wicked dead will stand before the great white throne and be judged there. When the friend had read the seven verses of this chapter, she asked the sick lad (he was about fifteen), “R—, will you stand before the great white throne? "Very touching was the reply as he answered, "No." And when further asked, "Why not?" he continued, “Because I was judged at the cross." How simple, and how true! giving effect, too, to John 5:24, " Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation [or judgment]; but is passed from death unto life.”
Since the dear boy went to the Lord, among his treasures, written by himself, was found the following memorandum: “My three pillows are— (1) Infinite love, (2) Infinite wisdom, (3) Infinite power." What downy resting-places for faith!
Unbelief knows no such repose. Reader, what do you know of these three pillows? Is the judgment passed, or to come, for you? Can you say?—
“I rest in Christ the Son of God,
Who took the servant's form;
By faith I flee to Jesus' cross,
My covert from the storm.
Jesus put all my sins away,
When bruised, to make me whole;
Who shall accuse, or who condemn,
My blameless, ransomed soul.”