How Rosa wanted to go to that Sunday school class! Mama was willing to let her go, but Papa said “No!” Uncle Saul would let his girls go — why couldn’t she go? How she would have liked to sing the songs with the other children. “Jesus Loves Me” was a favorite with almost everyone.
And the Bible stories — they were wonderful! It was exciting to hear about the story of David and Goliath and wonderful to hear how the Lord Jesus healed the sick, fed the hungry and raised the dead back to life.
But every time Rosa or Mama would ask Papa they would get the same answer: “No, Rosa’s not going to Sunday school!” Well, she could pray. Perhaps God would change her father’s heart.
The little Sunday school room was very cold, for Rosa’s family lived in a little town in the Andes mountains. There was no way to heat their homes, and the town was so high in the mountains that the sun never warmed them up. None of that would have bothered Rosa. She had warm clothes and could bundle up. If only she could go to sing the hymns, learn the Bible verses, and hear about the blessed Saviour, the Lord Jesus who loved her and died for her.
Rosa and Mama loved the Lord Jesus, but sad to say, Papa did not. His sins didn’t seem to bother him, and so he had never turned to the Lord Jesus to have them washed away. Because of this, he would not let Rosa go to the Sunday school. Sometimes Rosa would try to slip away without Papa knowing it and go to the class. But whenever Papa found out, he was angry.
One day Papa had a terrible accident. He worked in the mines and his arm got caught in a machine and was badly hurt. He was taken to a hospital where the doctors did all they could to help him, but Papa was worried that he would not get better. He began to think of how he had kept his little daughter from going to Sunday school, and he wondered if God was punishing him.
So Papa began to make promises. He promised God that if He would make him better he would go himself to the Bible meetings. He would give up his evil ways and turn to God.
Poor Papa. He did not know that God blesses us not for what we do, but for what His Son has done for us. He did not know that “by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8,98For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8‑9)). God was not waiting for Papa to be good by doing what he promised, for God tells us plainly in the Bible that “there is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Romans 3:1212They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (Romans 3:12)). God was waiting for Papa simply to look to Christ for salvation. “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else” (Isaiah 45:2222Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:22)). I wish I could tell you that Papa did look to Christ for salvation, but I cannot.
God did make Papa better. It was not because of the promises Papa made, but simply because God is love and gives us so much. Sad to say, Papa did not keep his promises. After he got out of the hospital, he went back to his sinful ways. He did, however, change in one way: Papa now let Rosa go to Sunday school! How happy she was to go with her cousins. She could now sing with a heart full of joy and learn more of the wonderful ways God cares for those who trust in the Saviour.
And so for several years Rosa went to Sunday school and to the Bible meetings. When she grew to be a young lady, she met Hugo, the young man who was saved when God spoke to him in the earthquake. After a few years Hugo fell in love with Rosa and wanted to marry her. Papa found out that Hugo loved his daughter.
Again Papa said “No!” Rosa loved Hugo and knew that he also wanted to follow the Lord Jesus. She prayed that Papa would understand what a fine young man Hugo really was.
One day Hugo came to speak with Rosa’s papa. This time Papa got angry and ordered Hugo to get out. He picked up a rock and threw it at Hugo. Rosa and her mother could do nothing but wipe their tears away and pray. This they did. But this time Hugo and many Christian friends also prayed, and Papa again changed his mind, but without a serious accident. God softened his heart, and he began to see that Hugo would indeed be a good husband for his daughter.
Rosa and Hugo were so happy and thankful that God had answered their prayers. They had learned that God is a loving Father to those who trust in His Son, the Lord Jesus, for salvation. “Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me” (Psalm 50:1515And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. (Psalm 50:15)).
Do you know God as your Father like Rosa and Hugo do? Have you ever talked to Him in prayer? Or are you more like Rosa’s father? Are you planning to be a better person and hoping that God will think that you are good enough for heaven? Instead, won’t you believe God’s Word today, that there are none that do good, and turn to the Saviour who died for your sins upon the cross of Calvary. “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near” (Isaiah 55:66Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: (Isaiah 55:6)).