Pastor’s Storybook I-5
Mr. Wise returns the following week to visit Learner but does not find him at home or in his shop. Finally, he meets him on the street. Learner apologizes, “Mr. Wise, since my brother’s funeral I have been too busy to think about God. Maybe in a month or two…”
“I know you are busy, but you must not let the things of this life make you forget what is most important. Let me tell you about Noah and the Flood.”
Please find in Genesis 6:5-14 what Mr. Wise explains:
How did God feel about what the people were doing in the time of Noah?
Why did God save Noah and his family?
What did Noah do, to obey God?
They walk to Learner’s shop and begin to work on a door. Mr. Wise explains the flood: “Jesus says that the people in Noah’s day were living their normal lives, in Luke 17:27. They forgot God and became wicked and violent. God waited patiently for them to repent, but they ignored God. God is holy. He does not tolerate sin. The sin and violence He saw in Noah’s time made him sad and angry. He decided to destroy the people of the world.”
“All of them?”
“Almost. Noah was the only man who listened to God. Noah trusted God although he could not see Him. He spent many years building the big boat although he could not see any water to float it. God saved Noah, because he believed God and obeyed Him. God destroyed the earth with a flood, but saved Noah and his family inside the boat.
Mr. Foolish stops at the door, listening. Mr. Wise explains, “Today we are like the people of Noah’s time. We ignore God and become full of sin and violence. Our sin makes God sad and angry. We will all be destroyed by death if we do not enter the safe place God has given us. That safe place is like the big boat. It is Jesus. We are safe in Jesus’ hands if we believe.”
Mr. Foolish protests, “But Learner is not doing anything evil! Why does he need a safe place to hide? He needs more money! Here, look what I brought. It’s a candy machine. Put a coin in here, turn this knob and out comes the candy. Buy it, Learner, for your woodworking shop. People will come for candy and you will get lots of money. Money is the most important thing.”
Mr. Wise tells Mr. Foolish, “I’d like to tell you Jesus’ story of The Foolish Rich Man.”
Please
find Jesus’ warning in Luke 12:13-21 for people who seek only more
wealth.
Mr. Wise asks Mr. Foolish, who is still holding his candy machine. “Do you see that the rich man was just doing his ordinary business? But he was placing more importance on his crops and barns than on God. Death came when he was not expecting it. He was not prepared for death. Jesus says that He will return to the earth again. Some people will be doing their ordinary business like the people of Noah’s day. They will not be ready for Jesus. They will be destroyed like the people caught by the flood. But those who belong to Jesus will be safe.”
Mr. Foolish walks away laughing, but Learner responds: “Mr. Wise, I have been forgetting God. Pray with me so that I can ask for forgiveness in Jesus’ name.” After they pray he says, “I should have prayed with you long ago. I feel relieved. I will tell these stories to my family to help them remember God. Do you have another Bible verse for me to memorize?”
“Learn Romans 6:23. Can we meet again soon?”
“Yes. Tonight. Please eat dinner at my house. My wife Sara wants to know you, too.”
Memorize Romans 6:23, about the most valuable gift in the world.