This week I would like to
share a short story that incorporates poetry. I wrote this as I reflected on
God’s work in the life of his people. In particular, I considered Deuteronomy 6:5: “You
shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your might” and some lessons from recent sermons I have heard. God set
his people apart for himself, redeeming them through Christ’s sacrifice on the
cross and conforming them to the image of Christ as they walk through this life
toward home. (One note on this, in the first paragraph, the child is introduced as the
worst sinner. This is representative of the humility God puts in his people
allowing them to see the wretches they are before him.)
A little child loved the Lord with all his heart and soul and strength. This child was a sinner, the worst one you see. The child loved the Lord because his Lord loved him (1 John 4:9-10, 19.) The child loved because his Savior spilled his blood for the child’s sins. His Savior died a brutal death and drank his Father’s wrath. Suffering of the worst sort, beyond comprehension was borne for the child. This suffering was the essence of hell. He died on the cross, yet this Savior did not stay in the grave. Three days later he arose, conquering death. Hell. That’s what my sins deserve confessed the child, a child of eighty three. “The Lord’s my righteousness. I live because he died for me”
This child of eighty three was dead to the power of sin. Yet, he wandered from the Lord he loved. He kept not all his Lord’s commands. He was enamored with idols but these were wrestled from his hands and broken before his eyes. How dull and vain the dust of these looked in the splendor of grace. The child's eyes were filled with the glory of Christ. A blessing had been given him, and would never be taken away. The child of eighty three cared for vain pleasure less than when he’d been a child of thirteen. Little by little his love for the Lord grew stronger as he walked closer and closer to home. All the sins of his past were washed away, gone, as the east’s removed from the west (Psalm 103:12). His sins present and future were washed away too. The nearer he got to his heavenly home, the little child saw more and more how vile he was as he did that which he did not want to do. Though idols captured his eye from time to time, enamoring his flesh, he hated these, for he loved the Lord. No man can serve two masters (Matthew 6:24.)
Though the child sinned, he could joyously say: “Christ loves you Father with all his heart and soul and strength. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Christ’s righteousness has been imputed to me.”
The body of Christ looked upon the child of eighty three; he shone as an example before them. His feet though old and beaten were beautiful. Over the years, his feet carried tidings of Good News to many (Isaiah 52:7.) His feet were washed daily for his whole had been washed at the cross (John 13:5-10.) The child of eighty three was a servant to his brethren. Christ made himself low for this small child’s sake (Philippians 2:7.) By grace, this child was formed into the image of Christ.
Looking back over his life, the old man, a child wondered at how time had gone by at an alarming pace. He knew it would not be long until he was home. Home, where he’d sin no more. Home, where he’d see the One he’d longed to see since the day he was given faith by the One who loved him. The trials of his youth had dried up and withered like grass. He’d been carried through his pilgrimage thus far by the One who measured the waters in the hollow of his hand (Isaiah 40:12). Through fire and waters the child had been borne (Isaiah 43:2.) The child knew not if fire lay ahead on his pilgrim path or sufferings many or few. But this he knew- he’d be brought safely home. His assurance rested in God’s promises. The Spirit bore witness to the child’s soul: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23 ( Note:"Great is your faithfulness" refers to God's faithfulness )
The child’s first love was
given to him and from the hand that gave him love, he’d never be torn asunder. Years
ago, God planted a seed of faith in the child. God is faithful; the child’s
faith grew. He was never forsaken and never left, though an unfaithful child,
his Savior is true. For all who have faith in Jesus by grace, the same can be
said of me and of you. We’re children unfaithful, our Savior is true. For his
sake, he bought us. By grace we are saved. Our earthly race will be finished victoriously.
For it is he who works in us, shaping and molding his clay. Sealed by the
Spirit and bought with God’s blood, God’s little children forever we are.
At that
time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:1-4
