“There is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Prov. 18: 27.

All little boys and girls like to have friends—those who love them—to whom they can go and tell all of their joys and sorrows. Some children have a great many friends. There are their playmates, with whom they go to school and spend many happy hours. Then there are their uncles, and aunts, and cousins, their brothers and sisters, and best of all their father and mother. Their father and mother are the best earthly friends that they have, because they love them more and have done more for them than any other of their friends.

Some children have lost their father and mother and do not have many other friends. But no matter how poor and lonely they may be, all children have one Friend, “that sticketh closer than a brother,” a Friend that loves them more and has done more for them than any father and mother. He gave them their parents, and brothers and sisters. He caused the wheat to grow that they might have bread to eat. He made water for them to drink, air for them to breathe, and warm sunshine to keep them well and strong. And He made the animals, and birds, and bright flowers, with which they love to play. He watches over them and takes care of them day and night. Can you think who this good Friend is? Yes, it is God, our kind Heavenly Father, of whom we learned last week.

It is right for us to love our fathers and mothers, and to do all that we can to please them, for they have suffered and done a great deal for us. But our Heavenly Father has done more for us than they, so we will love Him best of all. And we will try to show our love and thankfulness to Him by doing all that we can to please Him.

We cannot see Him now, for we are too weak and full of sin to bear even the sight of His purity and brightness. His face is brighter than the sun, and His garments are of dazzling white. He has beautiful angels (messengers), more than we can count, and each one shines like lightning, and is clothed in light as white as snow. He has a wondrous white throne, encircled with a rainbow. And He lives in a city with gates of pearl and streets of purest gold, a city where there is no sin, sickness, pain, or death. How rich, how great, how glorious!

But best of all, this glorious King is so loving and good that He is willing to be our best Friend. Such a Friend! How we should love and praise Him for His goodness. He says, Can a woman forget her little baby? Yes, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. (Isa. 49:15.) Let us remember this precious promise when we get into trouble. And let us remember that although His home is in heaven, He is not so far away but that He can see us all the time, and can hear us whenever we cry unto Him.

1. Have you any brothers and sisters?
2. Do you ever play with anyone else? Who?
3. Have you any cousins, or aunts, or uncles who come to see you?
4. Have you a father and mother?
5. Which of these friends do you love best? Why?
6. How can you show them that you love them?—The best way is to try to please them.
7. Then if you do not try to please them, what will they think?—They will think that you do not love them.
8. Would you be very lonely without all of these dear friends?
9. Who gave them to you?
10. What else has God done for you?
11. Has anyone else done so much for you?
12. Then who is the best friend of all?
13. How can you show Him that you love Him and thank Him for all His kindness? By trying to please Him.
14. Can we see God now? Why not?
15. How bright is His face? Matt. 17:2; Acts 26:13-15; Rev. 1:13-16.
16. How is He clothed?
17. How many beautiful angels has He? Rev. 5:11; Heb. 12:22.
18. How bright are their faces? Matt. 28:2, 3; Dan. 10:5, 6.
19. What kind of garments have they?
20. What do angels do?—They are God’s messengers, going here and there at His bidding. Ps. 103:20, 21; Heb. 1:14.
21. Tell what you can about God’s throne. Rev. 20:11; Dan. 7:9; Rev. 4:3-8; Ezek. 1:26-28.
22. Who only have thrones?—Kings.
23. Then what is God?—A mighty king.
24. In what kind of city does He live? Rev. 21:10-23.
25. Where is this city?
26. Although so great, what is He willing to be?—Your best Friend.
27. A better friend than a brother? Prov. 18:24.
28. And what does He say that shows Him to be a better friend than even your own mother? Isa. 49:15.
29. Can He hear when you call upon Him? Ps. 34:17; 145:18.

The Present Truth – July 20, 1893
E. J. Waggoner

Story in pdf Our Best Friend