Tony’s mother had to go to his older brother’s school one day. Tony was only four years old, so he had not started school yet. His mother had told him to wait in the hall quietly like a big boy while she was busy talking with the teacher.
Nearby was a drinking fountain, so Tony took a long drink. Then he fooled around squirting water a little bit. Suddenly he saw an interesting red rope hanging down above the water fountain. He looked at it a while, and then climbed up on the fountain to see if he could reach the rope. Sure enough he could. He gave it a good hard pull.
Oh my, what a loud noise! The big fire alarm on the ceiling gave an ear-splitting, screeching and clanging noise.
Tony’s mother came running back to where he was standing, frightened. All down the long hall doors quickly flew open and out marched long lines of boys and girls. They all lined up outside on the playground, shivering in the cold wind.
Tony was not old enough to remember what the Bible says in James 1:1414But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (James 1:14), “Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” But Tony was old enough to know that his mother would not want him to climb up on the drinking fountain, nor to pull the red rope. Poor Tony; Satan had won another victory in him. The poor little boy began to cry as he clung to his mother.
The principal soon realized what had happened. He called the fire department and told them not to come, because it was a false alarm. But he was angry with Tony and his mother.
Tony’s mother said she was very sorry. But that was all she could do then.
After they had arrived home and Tony had calmed down a bit, mother had a little talk with him. She wanted him to understand that doing his own will and doing thoughtless things are sin. Sin is an awful thing in God’s sight, and no sin can be in heaven. God sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to take the punishment for our sins so that we might be with Him in heaven some day.
We are so glad that Tony understood what sin really is, because he then asked the Lord Jesus to forgive him and to make him one of His own dear children.
Tony’s mother took him back to the school so he could tell the principal that he was sorry for all the trouble he had caused. This was not an easy thing to do, but Tony did it to please the Lord Jesus. And then he felt so much better. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:99If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)).
ML-02/12/1995