THE CHILDREN'S FORGIVENESS

The apostle John when a very aged man wrote his first epistle to all believers, old and young, addressing them endearingly as "children". He was thankful that their sins were forgiven them for the sake of the name of Jesus. He also wrote particularly to the "little children" because they had known the Father. We ourselves too have learned, usually through our parents and elders, that our heavenly Father provides for all our needs and is the source of all our blessings. Quickly we realise that he looks for an answer in our full confidence and growing interest in the things that please Him.

Our greatest blessing and the spring of true joy is to dwell in the Father's affections and to respond thereto. The enjoyment is however lost if we disobey or displease Him, but repentance and forgiveness restore this and reveal a depth of love never before known. One glory of the glad tidings is that God can righteously forgive because of the completed work of Jesus whose blood shed at Golgotha is a perfect 'atonement' or covering. The words of Scripture written long before were then fulfilled, "then I restored that which I took not away".

An ancient game played in England and especially in a part of London now called Moorfields was to shoot a number of arrows, usually ten, through a hoop placed at some distance. If an archer missed with one arrow he was called a 'sinner' for missing the mark; if he missed with two or three or even with all ten he was still called just the same – a 'sinner'. Thus by one act of disobedience Adam became a sinner and needed salvation. The same Saviour who bore his sins is the One who was able to say of a certain repentant woman, "her many sins are forgiven". Her name is not given so that we can thankfully put our own name in: and we do not listen to persons who try to explain away the guilt of sin. Have you heard the comforting words from the Lord Jesus, as He said to another, "Child, thy sins are forgiven thee"?

J.C.Evershed