About 200 rosy-cheeked, merry-looking children, were gathered in the Hall for Sunday school. After sore hymn singing and prayer all were ready for the address. Then one of the teachers got up and spoke as follows:
“I am going to ask two questions in begin with, and I’ll expect both to be answered. The first one is for the boys: the second for the girls. Are you ready? Will any boy tell me whether it is bad boys or good boys that God loves.” Before he had finished the question, 50 hands were up, and as many voices shouting out: “Good, good, GOOD.”
“Now, will any girl tell me how maul good boys are here this afternoon?”
The girls took a look across to the boys’ seats, and then hung their heads, No one spoke. The boys seemed impatient to know the verdict. Still no one answered a word. At last a little girl whispered. “None,” arid some of the boys stood up at once to see who she was.
“How do you, know that, my girl?” asked the teacher.
“Right. You see, boys, if it is good boys and girls that God loves, there will be none to be at all, for this girl has told us there are none good. Neither Jim, nor Tom, Dick, nor Alick are good in God’s sight—nor Mary, nor Maggie, nor Nellie either. All are sinners, and unless they be saved, will never get to heaven. Every boy and girl in the world needs to be saved, or else they can never wear a crown up there in the glory. Now, what is to be done?”
“Pray,” cried one little ‘fellow.
“Well, my boy, what will you pray for?”
“To be saved, and get to heaven,” answered the little boy.
“And are you sure that will take you there?” No answer.
“Can any girl tell me whom God loves?”
“Sinners,” answered a voice at the back. “And who are sinners?”
“All of us.”
“That’s it. All are sinners—boys and girls, fathers and mothers, too. God loves all.”
“The second question: Was it good children or bad that Christ died for?”
“Sinners;” was the answer.
“Ah, yes! you’re getting to understand it. And who is it that Jesus saves?”
“Sinners that believe on Him.”
“Are there any here that believe on Him?”
“Yes,” answered a little girl, “I do.” “And are you saved?”
“Yes.”
“How do you know that?”
How strange that the idea seems to have become ingrained into the hearts of young folks that “God loves only the good, and Jesus died for the good,” whereas the Bible says the very opposite. God loves the sinner, but hates his sins. The Word is:
The meeting came to a close. The teachers waited behind and had a talk with the little girl who said she was saved, and found she had trusted Jesus a Sunday or two before, while in the school, and she was happy, happy!
To each reader. God loves you; Jesus died on the cross to save sinful boys and girls. Will you, like this little girl, trust Him? and you will be saved and happy, too.
ML 06/25/1939