The Gospel According to Ruthie

           Ruthie and I were sitting outside the other day, eating lunch under a big blue sky, soaking up the sun.  Seeing a large fir tree in the distance, Ruthie pointed and said,

            “Look, Mom!  That tree reaches all the way up to heaven.  Wow!”

            “That’s a pretty tall tree,” I responded.  “Do you think if you climbed all the way to the top you could get to heaven?”

            “Yeah!  But, will you and Daddy come with me?”

            “Sure, we’ll come with you.  I’d like to see heaven, too,” I said.

            “Okay,” she said, her blue eyes brightening, “and if it’s too tricky for us, then Jesus will come down Himself and get us and take us there.”

            “Yes,” I said, “yes, He will.”

            And He already has.

                       

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3:16-17).