Did you know that children in rich families are often very unhappy? Happiness for young children comes with knowing that you are loved, not from having lots of money. And the truest happiness begins with knowing you have peace with God because your sins are forgiven. Then it grows by following the Lord Jesus and obeying what He says in His book, the Bible.
Tony was an unhappy boy in a rich family. He lived with his parents in a big house in a nice neighborhood. Ten-year-old Tony only had to ask his parents for anything he wanted, and usually his parents would get it for him. But do you think those things made Tony happy? No. In fact, Tony was very lonely. He wasn’t even sure his parents loved him.
So, one day Tony planned a prank. The real reason Tony planned it was because he wanted to get attention from someone. (Getting attention is one way children feel loved.) Tony decided to become a thief for that day and rob one of the houses on his block. He got his friend Mikey in on the idea, and together they made their plans.
First, they studied their neighborhood and watched to see which house would be left empty during the day.
Next, they figured out a way to get into the house. Tony discovered a big tree growing right next to the house, and that gave him an idea. He could climb up the tree, jump to the roof, and then slide down the chimney into the fireplace. Then he could go through the house and open a door to let Mikey in. While he was climbing down the chimney, Mikey could act as his lookout.
Great plan, they thought! What could go wrong?
The very next day they put their plan into action. Mikey kept watch while Tony climbed the tree, jumped onto the roof and then scrambled across to the chimney. So far everything was working as planned. Then Tony looked down the chimney. He saw that it was smaller, darker and dirtier than he had expected. But he discovered that by scrunching his shoulders together he could squeeze in. Down he went, slowly, feet first. Inch by inch, he worked his way down, getting scratched and scraped every inch of the way. Then something happened that wasn’t part of his plan. Tony’s feet touched bottom ... and he wasn’t out of the chimney and into the fireplace yet.
Oh no, he thought, they must have their chimney damper closed! (A damper is a little door inside the chimney near the bottom that is opened from the inside of the house when a fire is burning and closed later to keep birds and animals from coming down the chimney and into the house.) Tony was stuck! It was impossible for him to climb back out, since he could hardly even move his arms. He yelled to Mikey, “Mikey, get me out of here; I’m stuck!” But when Mikey heard that, he decided that he had had enough of being a thief. He went home, leaving Tony to get out of his problem alone.
Wedged in that chimney with no way out, Tony must have wondered if he would die in there.
Hours passed.
Finally, he heard people inside the house. He was desperate to be free, so he called out for help.
The people in the house were quite startled to hear a voice coming from the chimney! They quickly called the police and the fire department. When help arrived, they found that the damper opening was too small for Tony to squeeze through. The firemen had to work for three hours to take the chimney and fireplace apart enough to get Tony out. Just before he was set free, Tony said, “Please don’t tell my mother!” Then a fireman carried Tony in his arms to a waiting ambulance which drove him to the hospital where he could be checked by a doctor.
Do you think the firemen told Tony’s mother? Of course they did, and then she knew all about it, just as God already knew about it.
What Tony did was wrong, of course. It is sad that Tony felt so lonely and unloved, but there is a much better thing Tony could have done to feel loved. Tony could have come to the Lord Jesus to save him from his sins. Then Tony would never have felt alone and unloved again, because the Lord Jesus said, “I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:2020Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:20)). That means Jesus would always be with him and love him.
If you are lonely, I want to tell you that God loves us so much that He makes those who believe in Jesus His very own sons and daughters. The Lord Jesus said before He went back to heaven, “I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God” (John 20:1717Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. (John 20:17)). His Father is now the Father of all those who believe. It will take us forever to learn just how wonderful that is! But even now, it is wonderful to know that God Himself loves us and is the Father of all those who love Jesus. He is the perfect Father, and He loves us all the time, no matter what. If we know Him, we don’t ever need to feel lonely.
Messages of God’s Love 11/12/2023