Dear Children,
I want to tell you about something that Gramma and I saw when we went shopping. We were both very sad when we saw it.
“What did you and Gramma see?”
Well, when we drove into the store parking lot, we saw a police car parked right in front of the store. The backseat door of the police car was wide open. Then we saw two policemen bringing a young man over to the car. The young man’s hands were handcuffed behind his back, and it looked like he was crying. The policemen pushed him into the backseat of the police car and then drove away.
“Grampa, why was the man in handcuffs?”
I’ll tell you why in a minute. But first, Gramma and I had to go into the store to find out what happened. I spoke to the doorkeeper, and at first he did not want to talk about it. But when I told him that I write Sunday school lessons for children about things like this, he was very willing to explain to us what had happened.
Maybe some of you boys and girls have already guessed what happened. The young man was caught stealing, and he was putting up a fight as he tried to escape! But it didn’t work, because the people who work at the store held him until the police arrived. So the police had to handcuff him so he would stop struggling to get away.
Now, children, be honest when you answer this question I’m going to ask you. Have you ever stolen something and never been caught? Or has someone caught you when you were stealing something? It’s not a very nice feeling to get caught stealing, is it? God’s Word, the holy Bible, says in Exodus 20:1515Thou shalt not steal. (Exodus 20:15), “Thou shalt not steal,” and because it is the holy Word of God, it never changes! In Malachi 3:66For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. (Malachi 3:6) we read these words: “I am the Lord, I change not”! In the eyes of God, stealing is SIN! Even if you don’t get caught, it is still SIN! There are other commandments, and when you disobey any one of them, it is SIN! 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.”
Now, you may never get caught, but you know that you have sinned, and so does God. And not a single person is allowed into heaven unless God has forgiven those sins. Remember, God sees everything we do, He hears everything we say, and His record of you and me is right and perfect. He doesn’t make mistakes! God loves sinners, and He wants to forgive your sins.
“Grampa, how can I know that my sins are all forgiven?”
Now, children, listen to what God tells us in the Bible. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:77The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. (John 1:7)). Here’s another good verse: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)). Now this one makes it really plain: “We have redemption through His [Jesus’] blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:77In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7)).
I’m pretty sure that if this young man had known he was going to get caught stealing, he never would have done it. But he DID steal, and he DID get caught. Now he must stand before a judge, and the judge will say, “GUILTY!” And so he must pay the penalty for that sin and perhaps go to jail.
Children, here is a reminder for those of you who do not have your sins forgiven by God. The Bible tells us what the penalty is: “Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:1515And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)). That is so solemn and very sad.
As for Gramma and me, we are on our way to heaven because our sins are forgiven! When I was fourteen years old, I trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Saviour. Gramma was seventeen years old when she trusted Him as her Saviour. Our names are written down in the book of life in heaven because our sins are forgiven, and we are going to be up there with Jesus forever!
Is your name written down in God’s book of life? If you really, really want to have your sins forgiven and your name written down, you can do it right now. Remember, God loves you and Jesus died for your sins. All you need to do is believe it in your heart, and God will forgive your sins!
Lots of love,
Grampa