Dear Children,
Gramma and I were just talking about some of the children that came to Sunday school a few years ago. She said I should tell you about the two boys that got caught doing something that was wrong.
Now these two boys were really nice boys, but like Samuel in the Bible who was a young boy, 1 Samuel 3:77Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him. (1 Samuel 3:7) tells us, “Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord.”
“But, Grampa, you just said that these two boys were ‘really nice boys.’ ”
Yes, that’s what I said, but they did not realize they were sinners. Romans 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23) says, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” And so one night after a gospel meeting, these two boys found out that “all have sinned.”
Right here I want to ask you a question: Do you know what the eighth commandment is? It has only four words. Okay, here it is: “Thou shalt not steal” (Exodus 20:1515Thou shalt not steal. (Exodus 20:15)). Only four words to remember. That’s easy, isn’t it? And here are four more words found in Genesis 16:1313And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me? (Genesis 16:13): “Thou God seest me.” Do you understand what these four words mean? Wellllll, I think you know, but you don’t want to admit that God sees everything! These two boys knew the meaning of those eight words, but for a few minutes they forgot all about them. Just read on and see what these two boys tried to do! Like I said, they came to Sunday school regularly, and they knew where we kept the big boxes of candy that we handed out after every Sunday school lesson.
One night after the gospel meeting, these two boys got together and whispered, “Let’s fill our pockets with some of that Sunday school candy . . . we both know where they keep it. Okay, let’s do it! You watch the door, and I’ll get the candy.”
So the boys got into position. The one watching the door whispered, “Okay . . . all clear!” The other boy climbed up to the cupboard and started filling his pockets with candy.
But the boys forgot about one thing - they forgot that there are two doors into the basement! (Even though it was dark down there, they could see well enough to steal the candy.) Suddenly, a light turned on! Then a voice said, “Boys, what are you doing?”
“Grampa, who caught them? Was it you?”
No, children, it was Gramma! And did Gramma ever feel sorry for these two boys. But the truth had to be told - they were caught stealing! Numbers 32:2323But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out. (Numbers 32:23) has eight words: “Be sure your sin will find you out.” This is the result of what happens to boys and girls who forget God’s holy Word. They end up in deep trouble. Now remember, God still loved these boys even though they had sinned.
This story has a very happy ending. Later on in life, both boys trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour. John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24) says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
Today, one of these boys, now a young man, often tells the story in public of how he and his friend got caught in the act of stealing, and he could then understand those four words, “Thou God seest me.”
The other boy was always happy to tell his friends at school and other places about how he and his friend got caught stealing. It was shortly after this that both boys trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour. One of the boys was so happy that he was saved from his sins that he wrote a story about himself, telling how God had saved him. Shortly after, he was struck with a cruel disease called cancer, and he left earth for heaven.
Now, let me ask you: Are your sins forgiven? Are you ready for heaven?
There is a wonderful verse in the Bible that has twenty-five words, and sometimes we sing them. So pretend you are sitting beside Gramma and me, and I am playing my old guitar, and you help us sing!
Twenty-five words in John three sixteen,
No greater gift has ever been seen,
Twelve about God and twelve about me,
Son in the center, verse sixteen John three.
That whosoever surely means me,
Surely means me, surely means me,
That whosoever surely means me,
Surely means you and me!
Lots of love,
Gramma and Grampa
ML-05/28/2006