Richard was ten years old. He and his brothers loved to go with Dad and Mother to the Automat, a restaurant where almost all the food was displayed in shiny coin-operated dispensers. First they would go to the cashier and exchange dollar bills for nickels, dimes and quarters. Then each one would choose a tasty beef or chicken potpie or a plate of franks and beans, put the right coins in the slot, open the glass window, remove the food, and put it on his tray. Drinks such as milk or chocolate milk came out of a faucet shaped like a lion’s mouth.
When each one in the family had their meal, they would find a table and Dad would thank the Lord Jesus for their food. Then the boys would dig in to the feast.
The knives, forks and spoons they had there for people to use were plain metal, but of good quality. Each one was stamped with the words, “Horn and Hardart,” the name of the company owning all the Automats in New York and Philadelphia.
Imagine how Mother felt one day when she was emptying Richard’s pockets before putting his pants in the wash and out fell a shiny fork with the name “Horn and Hardart” on it. She felt sorry that Richard had taken the fork, but she did not say anything to him about it until Dad came home and they could talk it over together.
Dad and Mother showed Richard the fork and asked him how he got it. With the evidence right in front of his eyes, how could he deny that he had stolen the fork from the Automat? Richard was ashamed. Almost at once he confessed what he had done. Dad told him it was stealing and needed also to be confessed to God. Richard knelt by the living room couch and confessed to God the sin of stealing. Then instead of the punishment Richard was expecting, his father did something different. He made Richard take the fork back to the manager of the Automat.
“Aw, Dad,” he complained, “can’t I just put it back in the tray with all the other forks? I don’t want the manager to know I stole it.”
“No,” answered Dad. “You must take it to the manager and tell him you took it.”
Richard’s wise father then went with him and stood next to him while he told the manager what he had done. And the equally wise manager did not make a joke of what Richard had done. He explained that every year many forks, spoons and knives disappear from Automats, costing the company thousands of dollars. Then, to Richard’s relief, the manager forgave him and thanked him for bringing the fork back.
Richard is now a grandfather, but he never forgot the lesson he learned at the Automat.
Boys and girls, God says, “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). Jesus died on the cross of Calvary to pay the penalty for the sins of all those who would receive Him as their own Saviour.
Have your sins been forgiven?
ML-04/03/1994