It was time again for everyone in the little Sunday school to make plans for the Sunday school picnic This was always a special time for the children. All of the children who had been going to Sunday school were invited, and they could each bring a friend along too. There would be games, races, prizes, hot dogs and lots of other good things to eat. But most importantly there would be singing and a Bible talk. The children could hardly wait for Saturday to come.
Mr. Riley always brought a car full of children, because many of them had no other way to get there. He had stopped to pick up several other children, then drove to Marie’s house. As they drove up they saw a lot of people standing around in front. In the middle of everyone was a big red rescue truck from the fire department. Then they saw that two men were carrying a stretcher out of the house. They were so startled and concerned when they recognized that the person on the stretcher was Marie! She looked so white and still. They couldn’t tell if she were even breathing.
Everyone in the car sat very quietly. They were all thinking of their little friend and her serious trouble. Mr. Riley suggested that they all close their eyes while he prayed for Marie. He prayed that, if it were the Lord Jesus’ will, she would be made well again and be back with them soon. He prayed for Marie’s family too, and asked the Lord Jesus to comfort them. Then they drove on to the picnic.
At the park everyone was quiet for awhile after they heard about Marie. But soon they began to play. They ran races and played many games. They had a wonderful time. Everyone got a prize. Then it was time to sit on the grass to sing and listen to a talk from the Bible before they roasted the hot dogs for supper.
Each of the children got to pick a song to sing, and then they sat quietly while Mr. Riley talked to them. They soon found out that he had not forgotten about their little friend, Marie. He told them that several weeks earlier Marie had told her Sunday school teacher that she was saved from her sins and knew she was going to heaven. Her teacher asked her how she knew that for sure.
“Well,” answered Marie, “the Bible is God’s Word, and it tells us that the Lord Jesus came here from heaven and died for me, so I won’t have to go to hell. He’s coming soon to take me back to heaven with Him too. You see, sinners can’t go to heaven even if they sinned just one sin.”
How wonderful that Marie knew this and believed it, and that she had told her teacher so.
Mr. Riley asked the children at the picnic, “If that had been you being carried out on a stretcher and rushed to the hospital by the rescue squad, would you know for sure where you were going if you died? Would you know if you would be in heaven or in hell?” He wanted them to really think hard about it. Then he told them that boys and girls who know the Lord Jesus as their Saviour would never go to hell because Jesus has washed their sins away. The Bible calls that being “saved.” “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:99That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9).
Several days later they learned that little Marie was going to be okay again. She had been very sick. Without knowing it, she had also been a real help to her friends. The children had learned from what had happened to her how important it is to be saved right now. To wait might be too late! “Boast not thyself of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Proverbs 27:11Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. (Proverbs 27:1).
Ask the Lord Jesus Christ to save you right now. And HE WILL!
ML-06/12/1988