Bumblebees are pretty with black and yellow bands of color. They make a noisy buzzing sound as they fly around, busily gathering pollen and sweet nectar from flowers. Have you ever wondered if bumblebees were fuzzy?
Nathan was a little boy who wanted to find out if bumblebees were really fuzzy since they look fuzzy. He also knew they could sting, so he figured out a plan to find out the answer to his question. He decided he would very quickly wipe his finger across the back of the bumblebee and then very quickly pull his hand away. Do you think he had a good plan?
You can guess what happened! “Ouch! OOOOWW!” The bumblebee was quicker than Nathan’s finger and it stung him!
Some things in this world are very pretty. Many things seem like they would be fun to do.
Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden. They were allowed to eat anything they wanted except the fruit of one tree. God was testing them to see if they would obey Him and trust Him. Even though there really was plenty to eat, Eve listened to Satan’s suggestion and went over to the tree. Eve saw that it was good for food. Its fruit looked so pretty, so she ate some. Then she gave some to her husband and he ate some too.
It may have tasted very good but it had a sting in it! What was the sting? SIN AND DEATH! “The sting of death is sin.” 1 Corinthians 15:5656The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. (1 Corinthians 15:56).
When people talk about sinful things, they make them sound so nice, but they don’t tell you about the sting in them. God’s Word gives us many good warnings about sin. Here are some of them. “My son, if sinners entice thee [tell how good something is], consent [agree] thou not.” Proverbs 1:1010My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. (Proverbs 1:10). “Go not in the way of evil men.” Proverbs 4:1414Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. (Proverbs 4:14). Look up these verses in your Bible and read on a few more verses. You will find the sting for disobeying the warning.
Nathan’s bumblebee sting was painful but it did not last long. However, the sting of sin is very bad. It brings sadness in life, then death and after death the punishment. (Hebrews 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27).)
“All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23). What can be done for those who have been stung by sin?
In the Old Testament there is an interesting story about some very bad stings. In Numbers 21 we are told that the people of God were discouraged and were angry with God and with Moses. They complained about the food God gave them faithfully every day.
God sent fiery serpents (poisonous snakes) that bit the people and many died. The people soon realized they had done wrong by complaining and came to Moses and said, “We have sinned . . . against the Lord. . . . Pray unto the Lord, that He take away the serpents from us.” v. 7. Moses prayed and the Lord told him to make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole. When anyone who was bitten looked at this serpent of brass he lived!
What does this story mean? Jesus explained it when He said, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:14,1514And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:14‑15). Jesus is the Son of man. He was “lifted up” on the cross to die. Any sinner who “looks” at Him by faith and believes that Jesus died for him or her is saved from their sins. That terrible sting of death and judgment is gone forever. The saved person has eternal life. That is the life that God gives.
Do you have eternal life? Will you look to Jesus now? Then instead of trying the sinful things that bring a sting, you can trust God for your happiness and obey Him. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:1717Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:17).
ML-02/07/1993