Betty was a pure white turkey, and she was a pet that belonged to someone, but we didn’t know who owned her. We saw her wandering around our yard, and when we went outside, she was not afraid of us. Since we had a pen full of chickens, we didn’t want this big turkey deciding she wanted to visit our chickens in their pen. What a ruckus that would make! We wanted her just to go back home, wherever that was.
Not only was she not welcome at our place, but also we have a busy road out front, with cars and trucks speeding by all the time. We didn’t feel we could just chase her away in case she hurried off in that direction. And how do you tell a turkey to stay away from the dangerous road? So we decided to go over to our neighbors on the next farm and ask them if they knew whose pet turkey was in our yard.
Sometimes it’s even hard to explain to a young child the dangers of a street or road. Older ones usually understand not to chase a ball that goes into the street. But then there are some children who ignore what their parents have told them about not running into the street for any reason. Those who disobey have broken one of God’s commandments: “Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well-pleasing unto the Lord” (Colossians 3:2020Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. (Colossians 3:20)). And disobeying your parents is wrong, and it is sin.
Dad found the neighbors at home and talked to them about the turkey and then came home to tell us what they said. “Yes, it’s their turkey, but they aren’t worried about her. Her name is Betty, and she wanders all around. She doesn’t hurt anything or bother anyone, so she’s okay. They didn’t seem to think that she might get hit on the road, and they weren’t concerned about getting her back.”
Well, okay ... she’s not a wild turkey, and they’re not going to come get her. So Dad and I decided we would catch her and take her back to their yard. That was easier said than done because of her very strong and very large wings, which she was flapping as hard as she could when I tried to get hold of her. However, Dad got hold of her and carried her over to the neighbor’s farm, through a fence, and set her down in the horse pasture. We hoped she learned a lesson, but do turkeys learn lessons? Probably not.
Children learn lessons, but that doesn’t mean they always obey them. If you are a boy or girl who has disobeyed your parents or teacher for any reason, those sins of yours will keep you out of heaven. Heaven is God’s perfect home where there can never be any sin. His beloved Son, Christ Jesus, lives there with Him right now. And because Jesus loves you so very much, He came down here to earth to live a perfect, sinless life. But many people didn’t like that He told them they were sinners, and they wanted to get rid of Him. So they nailed Him to a cross of wood where He suffered and bled and died for you and me. The Bible says that the blood He shed on the cross can wash away every sin that you and I have ever done: “The blood of Jesus Christ [God’s] Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)). To have Him wash away every sin that God has written down on our records, we first have to confess to Him that we are sinners. Then tell Him we want Him to wash us clean from our sins.
He promises to do that immediately—with no waiting! And then we are clean and ready for heaven, and He promises to take us there when our time here on earth is over.
Are you washed clean from your sins? If not, don’t wait. “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth” (Proverbs 27:11Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. (Proverbs 27:1)).
ML-05/24/2015