St. Mark’s Gospel ch10 vs13 – 16.
“Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them
not: for of such is the kingdom
of God
The gospel is a simple message, that even a child can
understand.
The speaker showed an old photo of three very young girls
who were his relatives. Then proceeded to tell us of their hearts belonging to Christ.
The mother of the first child asked the question “Who wants
to live with Jesus”? The child replied “I do!"
Although she was only 6 years old, she simply understood
the wrong things she had already done and the need of forgiveness for them. She
knew Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, loved her very much, came from
Heaven and paid the price for them all at Calvary's Cross. In simple faith she accepted Jesus
Christ as her Lord and Saviour.
Just a few weeks later, that child died from diphtheria and
went to be with her Lord.
At a Christian holiday camp, 2 young boys new they needed to
be saved, and said to the leader “If we are old enough to die, we are old
enough to be saved”.
On the other side – how many people have heard the gospel all their lives yet tragically never put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ
as their Saviour?
The father of the first child was so touched with her call
to Heaven, that he greatly urged others to accept Christ as their own personal
Saviour before it was too late for them – forever.
It can suddenly be too late for anyone, anytime.
The second child was also saved at a very young age, and
lived her life for Jesus.
Her salvation - like
the Ethioipian eunuch (Acts ch8), and everyone else – came through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Ethiopian was then baptised by Philip.
Baptism does not save you from your sins, but is an outward
sign of the inward change within your heart and life, having repented.
As with the Philippian jailor in Acts ch16 vs30, who asked
the question “Sirs, what MUST I do to be saved?"... the answer is always
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…”.
There is no other way.
The third child in the old photo was also saved, belonging
to The Lord Jesus. She too, is now safely home with Him.
The speaker attended her funeral earlier this year - contrasting sharply with the one of a work
colleague which he also attended shortly before her, in the same place.
The colleague died aged 38, and had no professed faith in
Jesus Christ.
He had a “humanist funeral”, held by the Humanist Society.
There was nothing spiritual in the service, and the man presiding over it said
“At times like these we wonder why, and realise there is no answer”.
A very sad outlook!
Six weeks later, at the third child’s funeral, a relative
spoke at length of her life of service to The Lord. She loved to always talk about Him, quoting scripture, and looking forward to spending Eternity in
Heaven with her Saviour.
The relative - unlike the Humanist preacher – DID have an
answer, saying…
“It is well, it is finished, it is done”!
She was in agreement with 2nd Corinthians ch5 vs8
– “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and
to be present with the Lord”.
All through repentance, faith and trust in Christ, and in
His own sacrifice for our sins.
The speaker told of meeting with her a while before she went
to be with The Lord.
She had in her possession, a calendar slip showing Isaiah
ch43 vs1 –
“Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by
thy name; thou art mine”.
The Lord Jesus Christ knows ALL of us by name… is He calling
you today?
She also left a letter asking “to all my family, will you be
with me in eternity in Heaven?”
The speaker asked the same question of tonight’s
congregation… or are you facing a lost eternity – forever punished for
unforgiven sins?
He urged all to have “repentance toward God, and faith
toward our Lord Jesus Christ” – Acts ch20 vs21.
The first child had so little time to live for her Lord, the
other two did and served Him well.
When we review our lives… what will our story be?
What will YOUR story be?
All three girls are now reunited in the glory, in Heaven.
Will you also be there?
No comments:
Post a Comment