Six-year-old Tracy and her mother were visiting us for a few days. One evening I was taking care of Tracy while her mother and my wife went shopping. I had been told to put Tracy to bed at 8:30.
As bedtime drew closer I was sitting reading the newspaper. I called Tracy telling her it was time to put her toys away and get ready for bed. She said she wasn’t tired. But when I explained that she still had to go to bed, she cleaned things up and got into her pajamas. Then she came to me asking, “Uncle Ben, can you tell me a story about Jesus? Mommy always does before I go to bed.”
Her question embarrassed me, and I pretended not to hear and continued reading the paper. I was embarrassed because I did not know enough about Jesus even to tell a story to a six-year-old.
Two more times Tracy asked the same question. When I did not answer her she climbed up beside me in the chair and looked right at me and asked, “You know about Jesus, don’t you?”
I don’t remember how I answered that question, but it brought thoughts and feelings to me that I had never had before. I am afraid I disappointed Tracy that evening, because she never got the story she wanted.
Several times during the night I awakened, and the first thing I thought about was Tracy’s question, “You know about Jesus, don’t you?” This continued for several days. I knew that I did not know about Jesus and did not want to know Him, until then.
I found a Bible and began reading in Matthew, then Mark, Luke and John. The more I read the more I wanted to read. I read in those pages that I was a sinner in God’s sight. But best of all I found the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. I saw that by His going to the cross and being punished for my sins, I could be saved and be with Him in heaven. Now I know something about Jesus, that loving Saviour about whom Tracy so eagerly wanted to hear.
How powerful is the name of Jesus! That name spoken by Tracy and the Spirit of God working on the conscience of Uncle Ben were used to save him. God’s Word, the Bible, showed Uncle Ben that he was lost in sin and that only God had the answer to that problem. It showed to him a Saviour, the Lord Jesus, who died for sinners, who rose again from the dead and now lives forever in heaven.
“What think ye of Christ?” was the question the Lord asked when He was here. How have you answered that question? If someone asks you if you know Jesus, what will you say? Think about these questions. They are life’s most important questions! Don’t turn away from God’s love and continue down that broad road which leads to destruction. Turn to Him and be saved.
ML-03/04/1984