Little Jackie

It has often been said, and rightly, I am sure, that the child is the ideal convert. "Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." The picture stands out clearly, limned by the Master Artist, and even the blindest can scarcely fail to see it—the tender, gentle Saviour, the playing child, the call of love, the immediate response with neither fear nor hesitation, then the little one placed in the centre of the group and used as a picture to illustrate pure faith. "He called, and I came," said one, when asked to explain what saving faith really was.

As we get older we make difficulties that children do not have. We become so wise in our own conceits that we find it a task to be really simple. We try to believe, as though faith were in itself some kind of a meritorious spiritual exercise, whereas it is only to trust, to take Him at His word, to come at His call, to rest in His love, to confide in His grace.

Those of us who have reached adult years can never again go back to the comparative innocence of childhood. From that Eden we are forever barred. Even in heaven we shall remember the hole of the pit from whence we were digged; and the sins from which we were saved will be the dark background that will display all the more brilliantly the jewels of grace. But we can trust as the child trusts. In fact we must do this or not be saved at all. There is no other way by which we may enter into the kingdom of heaven. "Being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."