Frank was a very special boy. His dad and mother wanted the best of everything for him, and they had enough money to buy whatever they wanted. Nothing but the best school would do. They searched for a private school where he would get the best possible education and the standards were high.
One school seemed to meet their requirements, but when they asked about placing him there, there was one serious difficulty. It was not money, for they could have paid twice the fees. The problem was that school began every day with reading from the Bible and singing a hymn. They did not want Frank to have his head filled with such foolishness.
The Bible says that “the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness.” 1 Corinthians 1:1818For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18). If the preaching of the cross of Christ, the Saviour of sinners, is just foolishness to you, do you see what class you have put yourself in? “Them that perish”! That is the class that Frank’s parents were in. Do you want to be among those who perish?
Frank’s dad and mother decided to send him to this school anyway, but they said that he must be allowed to stay out of the classroom during the Bible reading. The teacher sadly agreed. But what would you do if you were that teacher? If you are a real Christian, it is not hard to guess what the teacher did. She prayed in secret that God would bring the light of the gospel into that unbelieving family who were going to perish without Christ.
At first Frank went to another room during the Bible reading, but he could hear them singing. They sang, “Jesus loves me,” and he moved closer to listen outside the door. Each day found him more eager to hear. It was the answer to his soul’s need, and it always is, if you listen to the story of the One who loves you, died for you, and rose again. Soon Frank was no longer in the class of “them that perish.” He had found the story of Jesus and His love to be the power of God unto salvation. “The gospel of Christ . . . is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” Romans 1:1616For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16).
It was not until Frank became very sick and his parents were afraid he was going to die that they realized that their boy had found the Saviour who is real and loving and powerful. They also came to the One who never turns sinners away. They left the class of “them that perish” and started on the road to heaven with Christ forever.
Which road are you on? If you are really saved from your sins, will you pray that those who read this story will be saved too?
ML-11/06/1994