Mrs. Mills enjoyed teaching school and loved to see her students learning every day. She had a student, named Brian, in her fourthgrade class who refused to pay attention. He was not learning and was in danger of not passing to the fifth grade. The problem was Brian felt having a good time was more important than learning. The result was that he would not have his homework assignments done on time, and only once in a while did he answer questions correctly in class.
I wonder if there are any girls or boys reading this who are like Brian when it comes to the Word of God. Perhaps you have never paid enough attention to the Bible to find out that it is a message to you from God. When you read the Bible or listen to it read, do you learn what God wants you to know? God had the Bible written because he has a very important message for you.
One very important thing to learn is “All have sinned.” Romans 3:23. Even though we don’t feel that we are sinners, if we have displeased God even once we are a sinner. Every time we try to hide something we are doing, we are hiding it because we know it is wrong. Hasn’t this happened to you? It proves that God is right when He says, “All have sinned.”
Another important thing to learn is that the result of sin is death. God explains that this death means to be put in a place of awful sorrow and suffering in complete darkness forever, never to be allowed into heaven. Just as Brian’s refusal to pay attention was about to result in his failing to pass into the fifth grade, so our refusal to pay attention to the Bible may result in our missing heaven.
Most important of all we learn that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 1:15. God loved us so much He gave His Son, Jesus, to die for sinners like us so that anyone who believes in Him will not perish but will have everlasting life. Have you ever admitted to God that you are a sinner? God is now willing to forgive anyone who will admit to Him that he or she is a sinner and will believe His Word, that Jesus died for sinners.
Are you wondering what happened to Brian? Well, because Mrs. Mills’ class was ahead of schedule in their workbooks, she arranged for them to have the first hour of each day, for a week, to play any game they chose in the gym. When she made the announcement Friday afternoon, Brian was reading a comic book which he had carefully hidden inside his school book. He was so interested in it that he didn’t hear anything Mrs. Mills said.
Monday morning arrived and Brian found himself alone in the classroom, alone except for Mrs. Mills, that is. Hoping to teach him a lesson she said, “Because you chose not to listen in class you are here by yourself and not in the gym with the rest of the class. Now you may come to class each morning the rest of this week and write for an hour, instead of going to the gym. It is important to pay attention.”
I only hope Brian learned a lesson from all that happened to him. His punishment only lasted a week, but the punishment for sin is forever! It will never end! So learn a lesson from Brian-pay attention to the Word of God that says, “Now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2. Confess to God that you are a sinner and that you want Jesus as your Saviour, and you will be saved from the results of sin and death. (Romans 10:9-13.) “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23.
ML-04/14/1991