Word, the Bible, which alone is able to make youwise unto salvation. * It is when we forgetourselves that we do things that are remembered. * * * A DARK, EMPTY GRAVE Suffering is never easy to witness, particularly that of a little helpless child. Because of a congenital disease a little five-year-old was coming to the end of her brief life. Sensing the grav ity of her condition, she looked up at her father who stood near her bedside and asked, “Daddy, does the doctor think I’m going to die?” His heart was aching, almost to the breaking point, as he silently shook his head in the affirmative. Tears began to come to her eyes as she thoughtfully asked, “Daddy, a grave seems so awfully cold and dark to go there all alone. Will you please go with me?” His head lowered as his voice quavered, “Sweetheart, your dad dy can’t go until the Lord calls him.” Tears flowed more freely for both of them now. The child continued, “Then, won’t mommie go with me?” The fa ther’s heart was breaking as he again had to tell her no. His daughter turned her face toward the wall and under standably wept. But having been taught to pray since the day she was old enough to understand, she looked in faith toward the Lord. Then sud denly her face was brightened and she smilingly turned toward her father again. “Daddy, its all right now. You see, Jesus is going with me.” The Psalmist said, “Yea, though 1 walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for . . . THOU . . ART . . . WITH . . .MET’ Just before she died the little girl recited, Gentle Jesus, meek and mild, Look upon a little child. Pity my simplicity, Suffer me to come to Thee Fain I would to Thee be brought Gracious Lord, forbid it not; In the kingdom of Thy grace, Make this little child a place. * *
reminds us as believers, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” For a Christian the wishbone will never take the place of the backbone. PICKING OUT THE ERRORS A wonderful way of revealing Gods simple plan of salvation to a potential convert is to urge him to take the Gos pel of John and underline the word “believe” as it appears in the book. The Holy Spirit has used this practical method many times as a means of re vealing Gods truth. An elderly sea captain who, through out his life, had been a scomesr of the Bible told everyone that the Word of God wasn’t for him, and he didn’t care who knew it. In his old age he went to a maritime retirement home, where the Godly life of a dedicated chaplain im pressed him greatly. Finally, he agreed to read the Scripture on one condition: he would be able to mark any portion with which he didn’t agree. It was an interesting experiment which appealed to his adventurous seafaring nature. As the days passed by the chaplain would stop in to visit and to check over any errors he might have found. But, instead of pointing out any, the elderly man would only grin and re main silent. One day when the chap lain came to the door, he found the captain tlead; evidently he had sus tained a heart attack while in his sleep. Strangely enough the Bible lay opened by his side. Later the chaplain picked up the well-worn -copy, thumb ing through it to see just how many passages had been marked. There was only one notation to be found. It was in the margin by John 5:16. These words had been pencilled in, “I have cast my anchor in that safe harbor; thank God for my Saviour, the lo rd Jesus Christ.” How wonderful to know that amid the storms of life the Cap tain of the soul is the lo rd Jesus Christ. He it is who assures a safe destination to glory. If you have doubts, listen not to the foolish voices of man, but turn to the eternal truth of God’s Holy
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