Tony’s mother had to go to his older brother’s school one day. Tony was only four years old, so he had not started school yet. His mother had told him to wait in the hall quietly like a big boy while she talked with the teacher for a few minutes.
Nearby was a drinking fountain, so Tony took a long drink. Then he fooled around squirting water a little bit. Suddenly he saw an interesting red rope hanging down above the water fountain. He looked at it a while and then climbed up on top of the fountain to see if he could reach the rope. Yes, he could. He gave it a good, hard pull.
Oh my, what a loud noise! The fire alarm on the ceiling gave an ear-splitting, clanging noise.
Tony’s mother came running back to a frightened little boy. All down the long hall, doors quickly opened and out marched long lines of boys and girls. They all lined up outside on the playground.
Tony was not old enough to know what the Bible says in James 1:1414But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (James 1:14), “Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” But Tony was old enough to know that his mother would not want him to climb up on the drinking fountain nor to pull the red rope. Poor Tony began to cry as he clung to his mother.
The principal soon realized what had happened. He called the fire department and told them it was a false alarm. But he was upset with Tony and his mother.
Tony’s mother said she was very sorry. That was all she could do then.
After they arrived home and Tony calmed down a bit, mother had a little talk with him. She wanted him to understand that doing his own will and doing thoughtless things are sin. Sin is an awful thing in God’s sight, and no sin can be in heaven. God sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to take the punishment for our sins so that we might be with Him in heaven someday.
We are so glad that Tony understood that what he had done was sin, because he then asked the Lord Jesus to forgive him and to make him one of His own dear children.
Tony’s mother took him back to the school later so he could tell the principal that he was sorry for all the trouble he had caused. This was not an easy thing to do, but Tony did it to please the Lord Jesus. Then he felt much better. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:99If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)).
ML-03/04/2001