It was lunchtime at a busy fast-food restaurant some years ago. Standing in line and waiting to order their lunches were mostly older people like office workers and construction workers ... and then there were two boys. The line moved steadily until it was the two boys’ turn to order their food. They looked like brothers, with the same brown eyes and brown wavy hair. One looked to be about ten and his younger brother about eight or nine.
“I’ll have a hamburger and a small order of French fries and a can of pop,” the younger brother said, giving his order first.
“$1.67 please,” the lady behind the counter announced.
The boy stuck his hand deep into one of the pockets of his blue jeans, came out with a handful of change, dumped it on the counter, and began counting ... “$.25, 30, 40, 50, 75. $1.00, 1.25, 1.35, 1.40, 1.50,” he counted, setting a finger on each coin and sliding it a little way on the counter. Now he had only pennies left. “$1.51, 1.52, 1.53, 1.54, 1.55, 1.56, 1.57,” he said, counting slower because he was nearly at the end of his pile of money, and by now he wasn’t sure he was going to have enough. “$1.58, 1.59, 1.60, 1.61, 1.62, 1.63. $1.63 is all I have,” he said to the lady, not knowing what to do now.
“Sorry, but you’re four cents short,” the lady answered him.
“Wait,” the boy pleaded, and he started rummaging through all his pockets, turning them inside out, hoping to find more money to pay for his order.
When he didn’t find any more, he counted his money again, hoping he had made a mistake the first time.
“$1.63,” he said at last, as he finished counting again, giving the lady a very sad look.
But his sad look didn’t change her mind; she wasn’t going to give him his order of food without the four cents he still needed.
“Mark,” broke in his older brother, “I’ll give you the four cents you need.”
A few sighs of relief were heard from the hungry people waiting in line behind them.
Then it was the older brother’s turn to order.
“I’ll have a double cheeseburger and a can of pop.”
“$1.71” was the reply from behind the counter.
He reached into his pocket and also brought out a handful of change and dumped it on the counter. Laying a finger on each coin, just as his brother had, he slid them one at a time toward the cashier as he counted them. First he counted his quarters, then dimes and nickels, and then only his pennies were left when he realized he didn’t have enough money either!
“$1.59,” he finally said as he counted his last penny. He looked up at the lady with a look that said, I can’t believe it ... I don’t have enough money either ... now what?
“You’re short 12 cents,” the lady said, now a little annoyed. “I can’t give you your order.”
By now, the people in line behind him were more than a little tired of waiting.
“Uh-oh,” he mumbled.
He was about to recount all his change when a construction worker, anxious to get his lunch, called out, “Don’t count that money again — I’ll give you the 12 cents.”
And so both boys were able to have their lunch.
You may never be short of money like those boys were, but are you short of something far more important? The Bible says, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)). That little word all includes you and me; it includes everyone on earth.
What does it mean to come short of the glory of God? It means that because of our sins, God cannot accept us as we are into heaven where He lives.
What can we do about our sins? Good works, going to Sunday school, trying to help our neighbors, and things like that are all good, but they will never pay for our sins. Anything we can do by ourselves would still leave us in our sins and still short of the glory of God, just like those boys digging for coins in their pockets.
Thankfully, like the boy was saved from not having lunch by the kindness of the construction worker, God in His great kindness has made a way to save us in spite of our coming short of His glory. That way is through the Lord Jesus Christ. God sent Him, His beloved Son, into the world. On the cross of Calvary, Jesus died and paid for the sins of every person who would accept Him as their Savior. Those who accept the Lord Jesus are no longer short of the glory of God, but are washed in the precious blood of Jesus, forgiven of their sins, and on their way to heaven. “Then He is gracious unto him, and [says], Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom” (Job 33:2424Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. (Job 33:24)).
Messages of God’s Love 2/25/2024