Alex was from a poor home in Germany many years ago. One morning when he was nine years old, he was walking to school when he suddenly thought it would be nice to have an apple to eat with the bread his mother had given him for his lunch. Most of his school friends had fruit at times, but he hardly ever got to eat fruit, so it seemed like a special treat to him. He was thinking about this when he came to an outdoor market which he had to pass every day on his way to school. The market had many stalls loaded with fruit, and he stopped walking, almost without thinking, in front of one of them to look at some delicious-looking red apples. The lady who owned the stall had turned around to talk with a friend, so the fruit was left unguarded.
The thought crossed his mind, “One apple would never be missed from all those apples, and even if I took one, she has thousands more.” This seemed true. Giving in to the temptation, he quietly reached out his hand, grabbed an apple, and was just about to put it into his pocket when he got a firm blow on the side of his head. Afraid and surprised, he let the apple fall out of his hands. As he did, he heard someone saying loudly, “Boy! What does the eighth commandment say? I hope that this is the first time you have used your hand to take your neighbor’s goods, but let it also be the last time, or worse will come of it.” Alex’s cheeks burned with embarrassment as he shyly looked up to see who was scolding him. That quick look was enough to make Alex remember that face for the rest of his life.
Alex went on his way to school, but during class, he could hardly think. He wanted to cry, but he didn’t dare to, because someone might ask him why he was crying. He seemed to keep hearing the stranger’s warning, and he couldn’t stop thinking about the words, “Let it also be the last time.” He decided right then that, with God’s help, it really would be both the first and the last time.
Years went by. When Alex left school, he worked in the financial business of a friend of his father’s. He moved to South America, and in his work he was often tempted to take what belonged to another, by charging too much for what he sold, by deceit, and by other wrong ways of gaining extra money. But though he had those temptations, whenever he was tempted, he seemed to feel again the blow from that hand on his face and to hear that man’s words again. God used that to help him not to give in to the many temptations to do wrong.
Years later, Alex was back in Germany when he saw that man again. He saw him every morning, and every morning he gave him a friendly greeting. The man always returned his greeting, though he didn’t know who Alex was. But then one day, both of them were invited to someone’s house. As the host was going to introduce them to one another, Alex interrupted him, saying, “Oh, that isn’t necessary; we have known each other a long time.”
“I believe there must be a mistake here, sir,” answered the man, whose name was Mr. Muller, “at least for my part. I know that I have often gotten a friendly greeting from you during the last few months, but as far as I know, we are complete strangers.”
“And yet,” Alex said with a smile, “I got to know you a long time ago, and I am truly glad to meet you here and to be able to tell you personally the thankfulness I feel towards you.”
“How can I possibly be worthy of thanks from a man who I don’t know?” replied Mr. Muller.
“It happened a long time ago,” said the young man, “but after I tell you a short story, I think you will remember me.”
After telling Mr. Muller his story, Alex took Mr. Muller’s hand in both of his hands, wanting to express his thanks to the hand that had done him such good.
And now, what about you? Have you ever been tempted to take something that wasn’t yours? I think all of us have had that temptation. If you did take that thing, that is stealing, and it is a sin. Did you know that even one sin is enough to keep you out of heaven? I hope you will realize that every sin is serious in God’s eyes and has to be paid for. It must be paid for either by the eternal death of the one that sins or by the work and death of the Lord Jesus on the cross. If you will only believe, God wants to give you His wonderful gift of forgiveness through the Lord Jesus Christ. Have you believed on the Lord Jesus as your very own Savior? God’s book the Bible tells us:
Messages of God’s Love 3/30/2025