When I was a child I used to sing a solemn verse of a hymn. It seldom failed to fill my young mind with awe. I write it now for those young readers to whom I tell this story of a little girl, who feared lest her wicked deeds should be recorded in God’s book. This is the verse:
“There’s not a sin that we commit,
Or wicked word we say,
But in thy dreadful book ‘tis writ,
Against the judgment day.”
In a school that I know very well, the teacher has a book wherein is written the name of each scholar, a list of marks for various lessons and general behavior being added. It goes by the name of “The Mark Book,” and is considered a book of great importance by both teacher and scholars. This book, then, will give my young readers some idea of the one wherein God writes an account of our doings.
One morning the teacher heard some little girls talking about the wrong-doing of one of their school fellows. The teacr looked very grave, and rising from her seat she went to the corner of the room where Lizzie was sitting.
“Is all this sad story true?” she inquired.
The child’s face turned crimson, and her eye fell as the teacher stood before her, but she made no reply. “Lizzie,” continued the teacher, “I want you to tell me the truth. Remember, God is looking at you; He reads your heart. Did you indeed take the money from your mamma’s pocket?”
“Yes, miss” faltered the child; “but I thought mamma would not miss the money, and I wanted to buy some candy.”
“Your kind mamma would not have refused you.”
“I did ask her before I took the money, and she said she could not give me any this morning.”
“Lizzie,” said the teacher, “not only have you been guilty of theft, but you have willfully disobeyed your mamma. What a black list is written against you in God’s book this day.”
“Has God put down in His book all that I have done?” said the surprised child.
“Indeed He has, Lizzie.”
“O dear, I never thought of that. What shall I do? He will not wash away my sin unless I tell mamma, and I caot tell her.”
“My child, if you are really sorry, you will not mind telling your mamma. Now go to her at once, for whatever punisent she inflicts will be only what her love to you demands.”
Afternoon came, and Lizzie again appeared in the school room looking very unhappy.
“Well, Lizzie,” said her teacher, “I suppose you have told your mamma everything.”
“No, indeed, I have not,” the child replied. “I tried to tell her, but the words would not come. I know she will be so angry with me. How much I wish that I had not touched what did not belong to me.”
“My poor child, you are reaping the fruits of your sin, and you cannot feel happy till your conscience is clear. Your mamma must be told by you or by me. Consider the matter well, and let me know at the end of the lessons which of us had better tell her.”
As the children left the room at dismissal, Lizzie waited behind, and when the last lingerer closed the door she went up to the teacher, saying,
“Miss——I have mane up my mind as to the right thing to do; I am going now to tell my mamma. And do you think that God will rub my sin out of His mark book?”
Lizzie had caught hold of her teacher’s hand, and her large dark eyes were gazing into her, face.
“My poor child, what trouble you have brought upon yourself!”
“But,” repeated Lizzie, who was now weeping bitterly, “Miss——you haven’t told me; will God rub my sin out of His mark book?”
“Listen to what God says in His Word,” answered the teacher,
Dear child, can you trust Jesus? His blood cleanseth us from all sin. If you truly believe, God will not bring you into judgment for the sins, which are written in His book, from which book the wicked will be judged when He sits upon the great White Throne; but your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
Lizzie was comforted by her teacher’s words and she ran to tell her mamma at once of her naughtiness, saying:
“I deserve all the punishment she will give me.”
Dear young reader, do you fear to stand before God when His books shall be opened? Is your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life?
ML 11/15/1942