In the city of Chicago one cold night many years ago, a blizzard was blowing in. Young Tom was on the corner trying to sell newspapers. It was so cold, the people were hurrying past him to their warm, cozy homes, so he was not selling very many. After a while Tom went up to a policeman and said, “Mister, you wouldn’t happen to know where a boy who doesn’t have a home could find a warm place to sleep tonight, would you? I sleep in a box around the corner in the alley, and it sure does get cold in there at night! Be nice to have a warm place to sleep tonight!”
The policeman looked down at the boy and said, “Son, you go down the street to that big white house and knock on the door, and when they answer, say ‘John 3:16.’ ” So that’s what Tom did; he walked down the street to the big white house and knocked on the door. Finally, a lady answered, and when she did, Tom said, “John 3:16,” and she said, “Come on in, son.” She took him inside and led him to a warm fire in the fireplace. She sat him in a cozy chair and left the room.
As he sat there Tom thought, John 3:16, I don’t understand it, but it sure makes a cold boy warm.
A little later the lady came in and asked if he was hungry. He said, “Well, yes ma’am, I believe I could use some food. You see it’s been a few days since I’ve eaten . . . I am kind of hungry.” She took him to a big table full of good, warm food. He ate, and he ate, and he ate . . . until he couldn’t eat any more! He sat there and thought, John 3:16, I don’t understand it, but it sure makes a hungry boy full.
After he finished, the lady took him upstairs to a bathtub full of warm, sudsy water. She left, and as he was soaking he thought, John 3:16, I don’t understand it, but it sure makes a dirty boy clean. I don’t reckon I’ve had a real bath in my whole life, except when I stood in front of the fire hydrant when they were flushing it out.
After he finished, the lady had him get ready for bed. She led him to a big feather bed. He climbed in and she pulled the covers up close to his chin and kissed him goodnight on the forehead. As she left the room, she turned off the lights and closed the door.
He lay there and looked out the window. It was dark and cold out there and the snow was coming down, and he thought, John 3:16, I don’t understand it, but it sure makes a tired boy rested.
The next morning the lady came and got him up. She took him back downstairs to that big table. After he had eaten, she took him back to the cozy chair in front of the fireplace. She took her Bible down from the mantel and said, “Son, do you understand John 3:16?” He said, “No ma’am, I sure don’t. The first time I’d ever heard it was last night when the policeman told me to use it.”
So the lady opened her Bible to John 3:16 and began to explain to him about Jesus. And right there in front of that fireplace, Tom gave his heart and life to Jesus. After a little while he said, “John 3:16, I don’t understand it, but it sure makes a lost boy saved.”
You know, I have to confess, I don’t understand it either. How could God love me so much that He would send His only Son to die for me, and how would Jesus be willing to do such a wonderful thing? You know, I don’t understand it, but it sure makes a lost person saved.
And today, whether you are cold, hungry, dirty, tired or lost in your sins, Jesus can make you warm, satisfied, clean, rested and, most of all, saved from your sins.
“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” (John 3:16).
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