The teacher was on morning playground duty, and the playground was packed with boys and girls. There was plenty of activity for her to keep track of, with the various games some of the children played. But it seemed like there were always a few boys who couldn’t find anything else to do but make trouble.
Suddenly her eye caught sight of some activity that made her decide to go check it out. What she found was three boys running along the hillside beside the playground, picking up stones, rocks and pinecones and throwing them at a little squirrel that was running away as fast as he could.
As the teacher walked over to the boys, they seemed to be so into their “game” that they didn’t see her coming. Suddenly, they knew they were in big trouble when they saw her and the look on her face. For starters, the children are not permitted to throw anything on the playground except balls. So they broke that school rule. But add to that being cruel to a poor little squirrel minding his own business.
Many of you children probably have pets. You might have a dog or a cat or a bird or something else. You’ve given it a name and enjoy and love your pet, and you wouldn’t do anything to hurt it. But how would you treat a wild animal outside, like a squirrel, rabbit, little mouse or even an opossum? Would you be kind to them?
Did you know that all wild animals have an Owner who takes cares of them? God has written in the Bible, “Every [animal] of the forest is Mine ... . And the wild [animals] of the field are Mine” (Psalm 50:10-1110For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. 11I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. (Psalm 50:10‑11)). He not only feeds them, but He also gives them places to make their homes. What a kind and caring Owner He is! But did you know that squirrels are some of God’s workers? Can you think of what work they might do for Him? We’ll tell you more, but first we’ll see what happened to the three, mean squirrel chasers.
The teacher gave the three sixth-graders a good talking to about school rules and their cruelty to animals. But that wasn’t the end of it: She sent them to the principal’s office, and for two days, at lunch time, they had to take their lunches and eat them in her office while they each had to write a paper about not being cruel to animals.
Do you children know what God calls breaking the playground rule and what those boys were doing throwing rocks and stones at the squirrel? He calls it SIN! And somebody has to pay for those sins. The boys actually got off pretty easy with the teacher and principal, but there’s no getting off easy with God. He warns that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)). But because He loves each one of us sinners, even bad boys, He offers a Substitute for us as a gift. The rest of that verse says, “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Have you accepted God’s gift of His Son Jesus as your Saviour? If so, your sins have all been wiped off God’s record of your life. Now that’s a wonderful gift! But if you have not accepted His gift, you have an awful and eternal price to pay! “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)).
Now here’s a different kind of gift God has given us. Those little animals with the big bushy tails are actually some of God’s “gardeners.” They plant thousands and thousands of trees every year! Maybe you’ve seen them digging holes and burying acorns and other nuts for food during the winter. They bury so many that they can’t remember where they all are. Those forgotten acorns and nuts sprout the next spring and soon grow into big trees in the forests and woodlands. They replace the old trees that have died and fallen. What a good plan God made for squirrels.
And He has a good plan for you too. If you have accepted His Son Jesus as your Saviour, you can be one of His workers. He wants you to spread the good news to your neighbors and school friends that Jesus loves them and wants to wash away their sins too. Here’s a good verse for you to tell them: “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)).
Will you be one of His workers?
ML-03/29/2015