/ \ A/tessage to Mothers
By Constance I. Tuttle
H ow m a n y thousands of respectable chinch mem bers shall stand before the Lord on the Judgment Day, hopefully presenting their good works as their entrance fee into Heaven because they have never heard these imperative words of the Lord Jesus Christ: “ V erily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3 : 3) ; or words so full of comfort and conviction as these: “ For by grace are y e saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast ” (Ephesians 2:8, 9). How easily might I, a faithful church member, have been among those who will some day he cast into outer darkness for eternity, were it not for a wise mother who turned to her Bible in her desire to raise her family in the way they should go. Daily she read her Bible with her family, forming God’s living Word, which is sharper than a sword, and powerful, and which He promises shall not return to Hun void but shall accomplish that which He pleases. “What does it mean to be bom again?” asked this mother of one pastor. “ It means,” said he, “ that some day in Heaven you will receive your new body.” No mention was made of the fact that she as a sin ner, deserved only God’s righteous judgment: eternal banishment from Him, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). No mention was made that the only entrance into Heaven was through the Lord Jesus Christ: “ Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). No mention was made of the wonderful gift of God, eternal life purchased for her at Calvary. “ For 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). Her family grew up having all that education could offer and the habit of daily Bible reading clung to some of them as they were immersed in the life of the cultured world about them. Their lives were filled with artistic and worldly pleasure; yet faithfully attending church and prayer meetings, they heard nothing that would convict them. But one day the Lord Jesus Christ spoke to a daughter of this faithful mother from John 3:3. (Mothers I plead with you, see to it that your children form the habit of daily reading their Bibles. God will surely speak to them from His Word. He promises it .):
"Her children arise up, and call her blessed/1
“ Verily, verily, 1 say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” He showed her some startling truths — that unless she was “ bom again” she would never see the kingdom of God, that she must see herself a repentant sinner and receive Him into her heart, that He came not to the self-right eous hut to those who feel their burden of sin, that in her cloak of respectability she was committing the greatest sin, the rejection of God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. He patiently stood at the door of her heart as He does at all hearts, knocking, knocking, knocking until finally sick of the emptiness of the world, hungry and thirsty for something lasting and satisfying, this daughter opened that door and let Him in. What won ders did He bring with Him! Such joy (real joy) and peace as she had never known! Such delight in His wonderful and living Word, and such a marvelous new life: a life free from worry, boredom, emptiness — a life full of meaning, purpose and of love for Him. Those of you who are committing the same error, will you not open the door of your heart and let Him in? He can take away your sin; no other can. He will never fail those who come to Him in despair and bewilderment. Let Him in today. He died for you. “ Behold the Famb of God, which taketh away the sin of the w o r l d (John 1:29). “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you bv us: w e pray you in Christ’s stead, be y e reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:20, 21). li
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