On the farm in Minnesota where I lived as a child, we had to work whether we wanted to or not. One morning in the springtime, on a day just right for fishing, my mother came to me with a pan of bean seeds and said, "Oscar, take these and plant them in the garden today. Put them in straight rows a few inches apart and cover each bean with dirt. Plant them all. Understand?"
I said, "Yes."
Planting beans is no fun. In fact, it's a back-breaking job. Stoop down—get up. Stoop down—get up. Stoop down—get up. On and on it goes. Who could enjoy that?
And it was extra hard on me because my mind was really down at the lake where the fish were biting. But there was no way I could get out of it, so I worked day-dreaming all the while about other things. Body in the garden—heart at the lake.
Then all at once it happened; I accidentally stepped on the edge of the pan. FLIP! Over it went. Beans scattered everywhere. What a mess! Now all I could see was more work than ever.
Suddenly I got a bright idea. "There's no need to pick up all those beans," I thought. "I'll just cover them up and no one will ever know the difference. And besides, that will end the job!"
So I did, and headed for the house with my rake and hoe and empty pan. Mother met me at the door and said: "Done already? Did you do a good job?"
I said, "Yes."
Then she let me go fishing, but I knew in my heart that I had told a lie.
The Bible says: "BE SURE YOUR SIN WILL FIND YOU OUT." Num. 32:2323But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out. (Numbers 32:23). We can't hide anything from God; He knows all about the things we have tried to cover up.
All went well for a few days. Then something happened; the beans began to grow and came up through the dirt. I mean ALL OF THEM, not only the ones I had planted in neat rows, but also the ones I had spilled. Now my story about doing a "good job" was ruined! And mother could see what had happened. She understood it all. Because she loved me very much, it was necessary for her to punish me for lying about the "good job" I didn't do.
After I told the children this story they called me "Mr. Beans"! I tell you the story, friend, because I want to tell you another story: the story of Jesus.
He is the Son of God who came from heaven for you and me. He knew all about our sins, but He died for us on the cross so that He could take the punishment we deserve. He wants us to receive Him as our Savior. He forgives us our sins when we believe on Him.
Pray to the Lord Jesus Christ right now. Tell Him that you are a sinner but that you want Him to take your sins away. He will do it! I accepted Him as my own personal Savior when I was a child. Now I have lived a long life and have learned to know Him better and to love Him. He has never disappointed me, and never will. I want you to know Him, too.
"THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST HIS SON CLEANSETH US FROM ALL SIN." 1 John 1:7.