Little Elizabeth lived in Jerusalem. She knew all about King David who once lived and ruled in that city. But she did not know about the greater King, the Lord Jesus, who once taught in that very san: city, and who died for her sins just outside the city walls.
Elizabeth's mother was an English Jewess, and her father was an Armenian. Elizabeth did not see Daddy very often, he was far away in Cyprus. Something was wrong, she did not know what, but Mother was not happy. Often she cried; and one time she tad said she did not want Elizabeth's father to ever come home.
Knock! Knock! Someone was at the door! As Mother hurried to answer, Elizabeth ran to the window to peek.
Oh! Who could that strange-looking lady ever be? Her clothes looked different somehow, and her hair and eyes were not as dark as Elizabeth's, or as most of the people who lived around them. Elizabeth was sure she wasn't an Arabian or a Jewess, or even an Armenian like her Daddy.
The strange lady and Mother came into the room, and though the lady smiled at Elizabeth and greeted her kindly, Mother and she were soon talking so busily and earnestly that Elizabeth thought they had forgotten her. So she stood quietly in her corner, peeping now and then at the lady's nice face, and trying to make out just what they were talking about.
"Elizabeth, will you get your brother?" Mother asked.
The little three-year-old brother was just waking up from his nap, so Elizabeth smoothed his hair and little shirt and then led him in to Mother. But Mother was crying, so she took little brother into the corner to play.
As the ladies talked Elizabeth heard her Daddy mentioned, and a strange word, "divorce." Whatever that word meant, Elizabeth did not know, but it seemed to be what made Mother cry, and the strange lady looked very sad, too.
Before the lady left she smiled again at Elizabeth and asked, "Wouldn't you like to go to Sunday school with me this next Sunday morning? We have happy times singing and listening to stories from God's Word."
Elizabeth nodded her head shyly, and the lady said, "I'll come to walk with you Sunday morning, then.
You'll be watching out the window for me, won't you?" And once again Elizabeth nodded her head.
Sunday morning came, and when the kind lady arrived Elizabeth slipped her hand into hers, and trotted off up the hill with her.
Happy-faced children were already sitting on little chairs waiting for them, and what a good time they had singing! They learned to repeat the verse, "I will make you fishers of men," and then they learned a nice chorus using those same words. Over and over they sang it, and then the lady told them a story from the Bible.
"Mother, do we have a Bible?" Elizabeth cried as soon as she got home.
"Yes, I think Daddy used to have a Bible somewhere," answered her mother. After looking for a while she found it.
"Oh, goody!" cried Elizabeth. "Now let's find the verse we learned in Sunday school, 'I will make you fishers of men.' "
But Elizabeth could not remember where it was found, and though her mother searched and searched, she could not find it. Elizabeth was disappointed, but she decided to try to remember better the next Sunday so she would know where to look in the Bible.
The next Sunday Elizabeth again went happily up the hill to Sunday school with the kind lady. This day the verse was John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16). When she returned she remembered where to tell her mother to find it, and together they memorized it.
"Now, Mother, let me read it the way the teacher told us to do today," and Elizabeth began, "For God so loved Elizabeth, that He gave His only begotten Son, that if Elizabeth believeth in Him she should not perish, but have everlasting life." Then she said eagerly, "Isn't that wonderful, Mother? That means that the Lord Jesus loved me and died for me. I took the Lord Jesus as my Savior today, and I belong to Him now. Let's read it with your name in it, now, Mother."
So they read it again together with Mother's name in place of the word "whosoever." Then suddenly Mother began to cry, and did not want to talk any more, so Elizabeth ran away to play.
Poor Mother! She was so miserably wretched and unhappy, trying to plan her life-trying to earn a living-trying to take care of her two little children-and trying to do it all by herself! She did not know that the loving Savior was close by her side, just waiting for the chance to take her burden and help her in a most wonderful way!
She became so busy that she did not have time to see the kind lady that came to call. Then one morning she awoke feeling so hot and thirsty. When she tried to get up she was almost too weak to move. Elizabeth brought her some water, and wondered what she should do. Then a knock was heard at the door, and there stood the Sunday school lady. How glad she was to see her!
"Oh, come see Mother!" Elizabeth cried. "I think she must be sick. She feels so hot, and can't seem to get up."
Elizabeth's mother was really sick. The doctor came, and said she had typhoid fever. Elizabeth prayed for Mother, and did all a little five-year-old girl could do to take good care of little brother. The kind lady came every day to help Mother, and when she began to get better she talked to her about accepting the Lord Jesus as her Savior.
Mother cried a little weakly, but she smiled as she told how Elizabeth had read John three sixteen, with her, and how they had put their names in the verse. Then she said, "I was too busy, before, but I have had lots of time to think since I have been sick. Oh, I can see what a dreadful sinner I have been, and I do want to accept the Lord Jesus."
Elizabeth had her Bible open to the right place, so Mother read John three sixteen again, putting her name in the verse. Suddenly a beautiful smile came over her face as she said, "Oh, I see it all now! The Lord Jesus loved me and died in my place for my sins. I do believe it."
Soon Mother was well enough to be up again, and to work a little. Then one day a man stood at the door.. Daddy!
With a cry of joy Elizabeth ran and threw herself into his arms, and even Mother who thought a little while ago that she did not want to see Daddy again. was smiling happily, and soon had her arms about him too.
Father was surprised at the happy welcome, and look-lag thoughtfully at Elizabeth and her Mother he asked, "What has happened? You both look as though you have some good news to tell me."
"Oh, we have!" cried Elizabeth. "Mother and I have both put our names in John three sixteen."
Daddy looked mystified, so Mother explained all about the kind lady, and Sunday school, and John three sixteen. She told how Elizabeth had been saved first, how she herself had been sick, and then how she had taken the Lord Jesus as her Savior, too.
As Daddy listened he blew his nose awfully hard, and almost looked like he was going to cry. Then he said, "I guess I am a greater sinner than either of you. I knew about John three sixteen long ago, and took the Lord Jesus as my Savior years ago, too. But I did not read my Bible as I should have, and finally I forgot to pray. Then I began to do many things that were wrong, but if the Lord will take me back I want to live for Him now too."
What a happy little family that was! The dark sad days that Elizabeth could not understand were all in the past, for now they all knew and loved the Lord Jesus. A little later they moved to Egypt where her father had a chance to get good work, and Elizabeth and her mother had classes in their home.
Elizabeth runs up and down the streets inviting the little Egyptian children in, and then she and her mother teach them God's Word, and tell them how they put their names in John three sixteen.
Wouldn't you like to put your name in John three sixteen, too?