"What's This; Religion?"

Listen from:
We were about to hold a gospel meeting at the street corner. Before commencing I gave away some tracts on the opposite side of the road. I handed one to a young girl with the desire that she should read it, and that it might be used by the Lord for the blessing of her soul. She snatched it out of my hand, and without even opening its pages, made the remark,
“What’s this, religion?” and immediately tore it into pieces, threw them into my face and passed on.
Some of my young readers may say, “What a wicked thing to do!”
But it is what many are doing with me gospel. The little book did not speak of religion. It told of a Person who had died for poor lost sinners, both young and old, that they might live. He has expressed His love by going into death, and that in order to win our love.
This was the wonderful message that the girl refused. She concluded that I was only trying to force religion upon her, but the gospel does not speak of religion, but of a real living Person—a Saviour. Not only for a certain class of people often called the good ones. No! He is a Saviour for all, and there is no salvation in any other.
He saves the youngest and the poorest who come to Him. He blessed the little children when He was here, and is still blessing them today.
Have you been blessed? If not, it is because you have not come to the Saviour. The girl I have told you of, refused the blessing that was presented to her in the little book. You may have refused it in another way. Not quite so openly as she did. You may have sat with your parents under the sound of the gospel many times, but up to the present not given your heart to the Saviour. But He still waits to bless you. He died to win your heart, your affections.
He now lives at God’s right hand, and is patiently watching for response from you.
ML 05/17/1942