The Story of the Pen by M artha S. Hooker
F o u n t a i n p e n s are so very useful that many of us feel we could scarcely do without them. If you boys and girls do not own one now, I am sure you will be having one when you are older. Recently I heard a lovely story about a fountain pen. It was such an excellent story that I want to share it with you boys and girls. If the foun tain pen could talk, I am sure it would tell its life story something like this: “I was not always as you see me now,—bright and shining and green. I was once only pieces of rubber and metal. But one day, some one sought me and found me. Some one saw that those pieces of rubber and metal— even though they were small and TO A S IC K C H IL D Our heavenly Father is awake . . . So sleep, my precious child, sleep deep While I am watching over you . . . He guards us both and you must sleep. It seems the neighbors' lights are dim But my friends have open eyes; We all keep vigil, but they know Nonee Noland scattered about—could be made into a fine fountain pen. “Having been found, I was taken to a great building called a factory. There I was made, or fashioned, until I became a pretty pen, as you see me now. I was then taken to a large store and displayed in a beautiful window along with other pens. For a while I seemed of no use at all, until one day some one came into the store and bought me. A price was paid for me, and from that day on, I have been owned or possessed. My owner That help is near. There are no sighs.
is very fond of me and guards me carefully day by day. “After I was bought, my owner took me to his office. But I was of no use to him until he filled me with some thing called ink. He said I was made to .be filled. Having filled me with ink, he said I was ready to be of service to him. He began to write with me; and many, many letters I have written for my owner. I enjoy being of service to him. He holds me in his hand and guides me gently and surely over the paper. My owner keeps me in a special place near his heart. He says he will always keep me, and even when I am worn out, will always cherish and love me. I am so glad I belong to such a kind owner. This is my life story. Is the story of your life anything like mine?” Do you not believe that the life story of every boy and girl is like that of the fountain pen — only far m o r e wonderful and marvelous? God’s Word says in Ephesians 1:4, that we were chosen to be His very own, before He laid the foundations of his great wonderful world — be fore the stars ever twinkled in the blue sky! He loved us even then, so long ago. What a precious fact! It is hard to realize, isn’t it? But it is true, nevertheless. Then there came a time when we were made. It was God’s hand that fashioned us. In Psalm 139:14 we read: “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and .wonderfully made.” But even from our birth, we were sinners. You will remember that one of your memory verses, Romans 3:23, said: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” — and that all included you and me. In Isaiah 53:6 we also read: “All we like sheep have gone astray.” Yes, we
were once as wandering sheep, far away from God, but the Good Shep herd, the Lord Jesus, sought us out and found us. He came into the world to seek and to seme the lost (Luke 19:10). Tenderly and lovingly, He placed His shepherd arms about us and drew us into His safe fold. We have been bought, too — a price has been paid for us. No, we were not purchased with silver and gold as the fountain pen was, but with the precious blood of the Lord Jesus (I Peter 1:18, 19). Christ died on the cross to redeem or purchase us. What a great price He paid for us! Those of us who have received Him as Saviour can truly say we have been AN ACROSTIC C— hildren obey your parents in the Lord; for this is right Eph. 6:1. H— onor thy father and mother Eph. 6:2. I— n everything give thanks I Thess. 5:18. L— ittle children . . . to come unto Me Matt. 19:14. D— elight thyself also in the Lord Psalms 37:4. R— emember now thy creator in the days of thy youth Eccl. 12:1. E— ven a child is known by his doings Prov. 20:11. N— ow is . . . the day of salvation ______________________ II Cor. 6:2b. bought with a price (I Cor. 6:20). We now belong to the One who paid so great a price for us, even the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. But the pen had to be filled by its owner to be of any use to him, didn’t it? So we, too, were meant to be filled with the Holy Spirit. In Ephe sians 5:18 we read: “Be filled with the Spirit.” As we yield — give our lives over — to our Owner, the Lord Jesus, He fills us with Himself and fits us for His service.
40
THE KING'S BUSINESS
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker