Johnny!
Donald Morris
Table of Contents
Preface
This is a story from my own childhood. All of the major events are true, though the details are clouded by the passing of thirty years.
This story is dedicated to children everywhere in the hope that they might be won to Christ, my wonderful, precious Savior.
My special thanks goes to Ruth Breman, who illustrated the book.
Don Morris Johnny!
Johnny!
"Johnny! Hurry up, it's time to go to Sunday school." Mother called.
"Look, your hair isn't combed yet! " "I like Sunday school!" Johnny smiled.
He got in line behind his three brothers:
Paul, Dan, and Timmie, while Daddy combed their hair.
Soon the four boys were ready for Sunday school.
At Sunday school, Johnny went to Aunt Doris's class.
Johnny loved Aunt Doris.
He loved to listen as she told Bible stories.
Sometimes they sang "Jesus Loves Me."
It was fun to go to her class.
Aunt Doris told them many stories, and Johnny knew some of them by heart.
But sometimes she talked about sin.
Johnny knew he was a sinner—that bothered him.
Today his Sunday school memory verse was, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Rom. 3:23)
"Sin is bad," Aunt Doris said.
"You need to have your sins forgiven. God can forgive our sins because Jesus died for us."
Johnny knew that he had not trusted the Lord Jesus to forgive his sins.
When it was time to leave, Mother told Johnny, "We are going to the Martin's house for dinner today."
`Oh, boy!" shouted Johnny, "may I ride in the Martin's car?"
"Sure, Johnny," Mother answered, "if Mrs. Martin says it's alright.
Go ask her."
But Johnny ran downstairs first.
When he came back up to find Mrs. Martin, everything was quiet. No one was there!
He ran to the back door and tried to open it. He tried and tried to unlock the door, but it would not open.
Johnny was scared!
What could he do?
"Would the front door open?" he wondered. His heart pounded as he ran all the way across the big room.
"Whew!" Johnny sighed, opening the heavy door without much trouble. He ran out the door to the parking lot as fast as his legs could go.
Johnny could not believe his eyes!
The parking lot was completely empty. Everyone had gone!
"Come back! Come back!" he shouted, but no one was there to hear him. Johnny turned and ran to the street corner.
"Come back!" he cried again.
He looked down both streets, but there were no cars in sight.
"They left me!" Johnny sobbed. Big tears ran down his cheeks.
He stood there on the street corner and cried, and cried, and cried.
Johnny was lost.
Would anyone miss him?
He wanted so much for his daddy to come and find him!
But Johnny was twice lost.
He was lost in his sins, too—and Jesus was seeking him.
And what about you?
Are you lost in your sins like Johnny was?
As Johnny stood there crying, Mr. Kelly came by with his two children.
"Johnny! What's the matter?"
he asked kindly.
"Are you lost?"
"I want my mommy and daddy!"
sobbed Johnny.
"Where are your mommy and daddy?"
Mr. Kelly asked.
"They went to the Martin's house, and I was left here all by myself," answered Johnny. "Well, I will help you find your mommy and daddy."
A hopeful look came to Johnny's face.
"Just come with me," Mr. Kelly said, reaching for Johnny's hand. "We will go to my house and call Mr. Martin. Your daddy can come and get you there."
Soon Johnny was at Mr. Kelly's house. "Now, let's call your daddy," said Mr. Kelly. "Where did you say they went?"
"To the Martin's house," answered Johnny. Mr. Kelly phoned the Martin's and asked, "Have you lost little Johnny?"
"I don't think so," Mr. Martin answered, "but I'll check."
Mr. Kelly could hear several voices... "Timmie, Dan, Paul, is Johnny here?" "Where is Johnny?
Didn't he come in your car?" "No, he said that he wanted to come with you."
"Well, he didn't come with us."
"I guess we have lost Johnny," replied Mr. Martin.
"Do you know where he is?"
"Yes," answered Mr. Kelly, "he is at my house. I found him down by the Sunday school three blocks from here.
You can pick him up at my house."
Soon Daddy and Mr. Martin arrived. "Daddy, you found me! " shouted Johnny.
Johnny was so happy!
Yes, Johnny's father had found him, but the Lord Jesus was still seeking for him.
The next morning, Mother read a few verses from the Bible to her four boys.
Johnny loved Mother's Bible stories.
He liked her to read about David and Goliath,... or about Daniel in the lions' den.
But sometimes Mother would talk about sin. Johnny did not like that.
It reminded him that he was still lost.
One morning Mother said to Daddy, "I'm worried about Johnny.
He has been so naughty lately."
"What do you think is wrong with him?'
Asked Daddy.
"He does not like to hear me talk about sin," said Mother with a sigh.
"I think he knows that he is not saved yet."
"We must keep praying that Johnny will be saved," Daddy said as he left for work.
After breakfast Mother called, "It is time for our Bible reading, Johnny."
Johnny was already playing in the driveway with his toy trucks.
He did not want to stop playing for a Bible reading.
Johnny acted like he did not hear Mother.
Mother called again, "Johnny, come now for our Bible reading. We are waiting." Still Johnny acted like he did not hear Mother.
Mother opened the door and came out.
Johnny could tell that she was upset.
"Johnny! Didn't you hear me?" she asked. "Come now!"
"I don't want to have a Bible reading,"
Johnny answered.
"That must make the Lord Jesus unhappy," Mother said. "He loves us so much!
Don't you want to hear about Him?"
"No," muttered Johnny.
"Well, you still have to come in for our Bible reading," Mother said.
She took Johnny's arm and gently pulled him into the house.
Johnny began to cry.
She sat him down beside the other boys. Mother read from her Bible the story of Naomi, Ruth and Orpah.
Then she explained...
"Naomi's family moved to a far country.
There her sons married Ruth and Orpah.
But Naomi's husband and her two sons died.
Oh, how sad Naomi, Ruth and Orpah were!"
Johnny felt sorry for them.
It would be sad not to have a daddy in the house!
Mother continued, "Then Naomi heard that the Lord was blessing the land of Israel.
Naomi decided to go back and follow the Lord.
She took Ruth and Orpah and started back.
" Orpah decided not to go with Naomi.
She turned back!
But Ruth threw her arms around Naomi and said, ' Whither thou goest, I will go;
and where thou lodgest, I will lodge:
thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.'”
As Mother paused, something inside Johnny said, "I wish I had not been a bad boy!"
A tear came to his eye.
It rolled down his cheek.
Mother looked at Johnny and said, "You remind me of Orpah, Johnny.
I wish you were like Ruth.
She wanted to follow God with Naomi.
Oh, I wish you would follow God with Mother."
"Why was I so bad!" thought Johnny. "I want to follow God with Mommy!"
He began to cry.
"You need to be saved, Johnny," Mother said.
"You need to have your sins forgiven.
Only the Lord Jesus can take away your sins."
"I want to have my sins taken away right now," Johnny sobbed.
Softly Mother said, "Kneel here beside me.
Just tell the Lord Jesus you are a sinner and you want to be saved."
Johnny prayed, "Lord Jesus, please take away my sins. I have been so naughty.
Please save me, In Jesus' Name, Amen."
Then Johnny was a happy boy! He had felt so bad.
But now he was not lost anymore! "That is the peace that God gives," Mother explained. "God takes the burden of sin off our hearts."
Johnny says, "The Lord Jesus loves me and saved me.
He died on the cross for my sins.
Now I love the Lord Jesus!
I want to follow Him!
I want to please Him!
Boys and girls, you can know the Lord Jesus, too.
Tell the Lord Jesus you are a sinner, and trust Him.
He will save you! "
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
" The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7
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