FRANK W. was a little boy not long at school. One day, when the other boys went home, he was left in the school doing some sums. By and by he looked up and found himself alone. He ran out into the corridor, but saw no one. Frightened now, he went downstairs, only to find the door locked and himself a prisoner. Frank burst into tears, but failed to open the door. Then he shook the door and kicked it, but in vain. He was like a boy who tries to get free from his sins by his repentance or by his good works.
Meanwhile, Frank’s teacher, having locked up the school, was proceeding homewards, when another little boy, Ernie B. expressed to him his fear that Frank had been locked in school.
“We had better go back,” said the teacher when he heard this. So they turned back to the school.
The teacher put the key in the lock, turned it, and opened the door.
“Now, run upstairs, Ernie,” said he, “and see if Frank is there.”
Frank had by this time gone to the class-room, where he sat at the desk a picture of misery. Ernie came running into the room, saying,
“Come on, Frank, the door is open.”
The poor little prisoner needed not to be told twice, but came down and entered into liberty at once. I wish you could have seen his smiles as, after a weary day, he retired to his snug little bed, — “Happy Frank.”
Notice three things about Frank
First, he realized his position. Do all you boys and girls know your condition and position as prisoners of sin and Satan?
Secondly, he believed the message Ernie brought to him, and acted upon it. This was faith, for he could not see the open door from where he sat. Have you believed the message that your teachers bring you from God and His Word?
Thirdly, he was set free through the work of another. His teacher did all the work, and Frank received all the benefit of it.
Children, you may be set free from the penalty and from the power of sin through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ at Calvary. The thing to do, then, is to trust in Him, and in what He did at Calvary when He died for our sins. Believe now and be free.
ML 05/23/1937