The Sweetest Name I Know...

Last night, my seven year old daughter called me to her bedside to talk. Informing me that it was something “very serious” she needed to discuss with me.

At her age, ‘something serious’ can range from wanting a kitten to having a favorite toy break.

However, I went in for what I thought would be a brief ‘childish’ chat.

Upon arrival, I could tell she was indeed troubled by something. So, I lay down beside her and inquired what it was she needed to speak to me about. She said, “Mama, I have been thinking that I need to be saved.”

Indeed, this was to be a “very serious” conversation.

I questioned the reasons she thought this and was informed that she knew she was a sinner, “I know that I sin, Mama”, she said. Soberly adding, “I sin a lot.”

She then told me that she disobeyed her parents and that she also lied. “Even if it is just a joke like saying someone is at the door when they are not, it is still a lie, Mama.” I agreed, sensing the seriousness of the conviction she was feeling.

She confessed more sins.

She told me that she had been praying for a few weeks and asking God to help her obey his commands so that she could be saved. I listened as she shared the great struggle she was having with obedience to God’s commands, knowing her disobedience was sin. She wanted to obey God’s commands because she wanted to be saved.

When at last she paused, I told her, “Abby, even if you are able to obey every one of God’s commands from now on, for the rest of your life, your obedience will not save you.”

A look of shock covered her face.

I explained, “Sin has defiled you so badly before God and that even if you could start obeying his commands perfectly, you are already ruined.”

She became somewhat anxious.

Using her favorite shirt as an example, I continued.

“Abby, do you remember the stain you got on your favorite shirt? We have treated that stain and washed the shirt; still, it is no longer white. We cannot get all of the stain out. The shirt is ruined. No matter how much care you now take with that shirt, it is still ruined.”

She listened carefully as I said, “That is what sin has done to us, Abby. It has ruined us. No matter how much care you take to obey now, your soul has already been stained. Sin has ruined you. But, Jesus can give you a new shirt, so to speak.”

Earlier that night, we had read in Revelation of the white robes that were given to the saved. I reminded her of that and told her "Jesus can wash our sins away and cover us with his own righteousness. He can put his own shirt on us. He can give us a new shirt for our souls."

We spent time talking about why Jesus came to this earth…to save sinners.

I reminded her that when we go to the lake she has to wear a life vest in the water. We talked about how she must wear it for her protection.

I asked, “Abby, what do you think it would be like if you were out in a storm on a big ocean without a life vest and you fell into the water?” She said, “I would probably drown and die.”

Agreeing, I continued.

“What if you and Daddy were out on the ocean and you did not have a life vest. But, Daddy had his on. What do you think he would do?” She answered, “Give me his vest.” I then asked, “And what do you think would happen to Daddy?” She said, “He would drown.” Stopping suddenly at this thought, then solemnly adding, “He would drown to save me.”

I said, “Abby, in a way, that is what Jesus did for sinners. He knew we were drowning in our sins and going to die. He knew we did not have anything to save ourselves with. He knew we were ruined. That is why He came and gave his life for us. He said he could cover us with his vest of righteousness and save us from our sin and from death. He said he would, if we would believe in him.”

There was a long silence, after which she told me she was praying and asking God to help her have real faith, to really believe in Jesus to save her.

I too had been silently praying this.

She then asked if we could spend some time reading the Bible. We began in the gospel of John.

We read through the first three chapters, discussing things as we went along. Things such as: “The Word was with God, the Word was God… the Word was made flesh”; “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name”; “Follow me”; “When thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee”; “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.”

Then we came to the discussion Jesus had with Nicodemus. “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Abby interjected, “Born again, it’s like getting a new shirt for your soul.”

When we came to the sixteenth verse of chapter three, “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”, Abby put her hand on my arm to interrupt.

In a most sincere and childlike manner, she gently said something that stirs my heart even now. She said, “Mama, isn’t the name of Jesus the most beautiful name you have ever heard in your whole life.”

"Yes, Abby, indeed it is!"