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. They searched for a private school with high standards and where he would get the best possible education.
One school seemed to meet their requirements, but there was one problem. It was not money, for they could have paid twice the fees. The problem was that the school day began each morning with reading from the Bible and singing a hymn. They did not want Frank to have his head filled with what they thought was unnecessary nonsense.
The Bible says, “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 unnecessary foolishness to you, do you see what grouping you have put yourself in? “Them that perish”! That is the grouping 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 and singing. 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 you might do and what his teacher did. She prayed privately 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 the next 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 grouping 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 everyone 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 grouping 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, please pray that those who read this story will be saved too.
ML-11/10/2013