Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyednot only in my presence, but now much more in my absencecontinue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. [Phillipains 2:12-13]
"If I Were God"
April and her friends often met at the ice cream shop after school
to talk and hang out and have fun. Their parents didnt mind because the
ice cream shop is near the elementary school and they could pick them up there.
Today they were all excited about the discussion they had in history class when
the teacher was talking about the presidents of the country. After they had
their lecture and video the teacher had a game called If I were
president where everybody said what they would change if they got a
chance to be president.
Well that was a fun game all
right. April said as she slid into the booth at the ice cream shop after
school. But if I were president, I would spend all my time on stopping
wars.
Not me. Ginger interrupted. In fact, I
would need more power than just a president has to get what I want. I would
have to be God. Yeah, thats a better game. What would you do if you were
God? I know what I would do. I would make sure there was never any more
mosquitoes. Ewww I hate those things. She laughed.
Well if
I were God, I would get rid of all the governments and have one government run
by me. Susanna said staring off into space. And if anyone
didnt obey, I would just wipe out their country. That would put an end to
all the wars and that stuff.
Just then, Aprils little
brother Stevie walked in which meant their mom had dropped him off and would be
back shortly to take April and Stevie home. Stevie was seven years old. He sat
down and listened to the game.
I think if I were God, since I
would have the power to do anything at all, I would first stop all the sickness
and old age and bad storms and earthquakes so people all over the world
wouldnt suffer so much. Added Kimberly who always had a soft heart
for suffering people.
Well I dont know. It seems to me
that if everyone was a believer, we wouldnt have so much trouble with sin
so maybe if I were God, I would just force everyone to be a believer and then
there would only be one world religion. April said daydreaming about how
that would be.
Dont you think God would do that if he
could, April? Ginger said.
But God is all powerful, I
wonder why he puts up with lost people and just doesnt wipe them off the
face of the earth in one wave of His hand and end all the sin and killing and
awful sins people do. April responded knowing she was unsure of what she
was talking about and trying to remember if the answers to these questions had
been covered in Sunday school.
Well my uncle was lost until he
received Christ last month. If God had wiped all the lost people before that,
he would have gone to hell but now he is going to heaven so I am glad God
didnt do that and maybe that is why he is waiting. Ginger said
emotionally because she loved her uncle and all of her family.
Well if God had forced your uncle to get saved before he wiped out the
rest, then he wouldnt have gone to Hell. Susanna added.
I am glad God didnt force me to get saved. When I gave my heart to
him, I wanted to. If he forced us, it might be like when mom and dad forces you
to clean your room. You do it but you resent them for pushing you around. I
dont think God pushes people around. Ginger said.
Well he could if he wanted to. April reminded everybody.
You know what I think God would do if he was God? Stevie suddenly
interrupted and everybody laughed because of how he said that. I think he
wouldnt be all bossy and make anything change but I think he would come
down from heaven and become a human so he can save the lost people because he
created them to be his family and I know mommy and daddy would do anything to
save us if April or I were lost. They would even give their lives to save
ours.
Everybody stopped talking and just stared at Stevie. He
may not have even known it but he hit on exactly what God would do to save his
children.
Not only is that what God would do Stevie, said
Kimberly, thats what he did do.
What do you
mean? I was just playing the game. The little boy wondered.
She means that is what God did, when he came down as Jesus. He gave up
His throne and all of His powers and all of His kingship to become a poor human
baby. Then he grew up here and became a teacher to teach us about Heaven. And
then he went through everything we go through so we know he understands it all.
And then he let people kill him so we could be h is family and then he rose
again to take us to heaven. Kimberly continued.
Wow, I
feel foolish for thinking He would do anything else. I should have known
that. Ginger said softly and humbly.
Me too. Susanna
added looking down at her ice cream. Stevie how did you know all
that?
Well, Stevie said not knowing he had said
anything smart at all. I do listen in church and Sunday school.
Well girls, April laughed. Sounds like we need to do
less gossiping and flirting and giggling in Sunday school and do some
listening.
Yeah April. Susanna agreed. Then
maybe we wont find ourselves being shown up by a seven year old about how
God really thinks and feels about things.
April and Stevies mom
came and they went home to think about the conversation but Stevie walked out
feeling about seven foot tall because he learned something about God and it was
right.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of Gods one and only Son. [John 3:16-18]
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50
Children's Christian Stories in one handy volume. This is a perfect
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Babysitters or anyone wanting to share a story with a child or children that
may have a positive inpact on their future value system.