Dear Children,
Let me tell you what happened to Chelsea and me one Sunday recently. Gramma had to go to Sunday school and our worship time by herself because I was still very sore from an operation I had had a few days before. Gramma and I never miss going together on Sundays unless one of us is sick. We hope that you never miss going to Sunday school or saying your memory verse. Those are important verses to always remember. You may ask, “What is your favorite verse, Grampa?” Here it is, and maybe you have already memorized it too: “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)).
Gramma and I usually leave the house on Sunday mornings about 8:30 a.m., but this Sunday she went alone. While she was gone, I had a hard time walking, so I lay down on the bed and Chelsea, our dog, lay down beside me on the floor. I could reach her head, so I rubbed her ears and tickled her under her chin. She loves it.
I must have fallen asleep, because the next thing I knew I heard Chelsea moving around and whining a little bit. But then she came back and lay down on the floor beside me again. I checked the clock and it was 12:15 p.m. But soon she was up again and whining a little. Then she looked out the window in the door and looked back at me. So I said to her, “Chelsea, do you want to go outside?” But she came back and lay down again. The clock said 12:25 p.m. Suddenly it came to me why she was acting like this.
“Okay, Grampa, what’s the answer?”
Chelsea knew that Gramma would be home any minute. So I said to her, “Chelsea, do you want outside to go meet Gramma?” Her reaction was instant! She jumped up on all four paws, started to pant and puff, ran to the door and back twice, as if to say, “Hurry up! It’s about time you get up off the bed and let me out ... I don’t want to miss her driving in!”
Chelsea was right! We hardly got out the door and down the steps when Gramma turned into the driveway! What a welcome for Gramma! Chelsea did everything but knock her down and lick her face!
It was right then that I thought about when the Lord Jesus returns to take all the men, women, boys and girls who have trusted Him as their Saviour up into heaven. What a wonderful moment that will be! And it could be today! Chelsea knew Gramma would be coming any minute, and we know that Jesus will be coming any minute. He tells us in the Bible, “The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:1617). What a happy reunion that will be — happier than Chelsea welcoming Gramma home! But, boys and girls, are you ready? Are your sins washed away? Look back at my favorite verse again and read what it says. That’s the answer! Come to Jesus right now to have your sins washed away so you will be ready.
Lots of love,
Grampa