The Heavens are Rockin’

As the second and third graders came in the door, I was excited to see so many children that I recognized. We started with a game in which every child had a list of activities to complete. I intentionally called time before everyone could finish. All got the same reward even though only some of the children finished all the activities.

Then we opened our Bibles to Matthew 19:27 and 20:1-16. After Peter asks what their reward will be for giving up all that they had and following him, Jesus tells a parable. As a class we acted out the workers coming to the farmer’s vineyard and working. Some workers come at the beginning of the day and work all day, some come at 9:00am, others at noon, a few at 3:00pm and last workers arrive with just an hour of daylight left to work. At the end of the day all the workers get the same pay. The farmer was generous to all the workers.

We discussed whether or not this was fair. Then I shared that this is how God works. He is generous. If someone accepts Jesus and becomes a believer at the end of their life, they too get the reward – life forever with Him.

"My grandfather did not accept Christ until he was 72 years old. I can always remember him saying that he didn’t need God. Near the end of his life he became very ill and the doctors told him he only had a few weeks to live. My dad spent time at the hospital with him, read the Bible to him and prayed with him. My grandfather accepted Christ two weeks before he died. He was 72 years old. I accepted Christ when I was five years old. I get to live my whole life for Christ and we both get the same reward -- life forever in heaven."

At this point, one of the girls raised her hand and said, “I’ve prayed to God, but who is Jesus?”

Another boy (first timer) verbally agreed and said, “I haven’t heard about Jesus.”

I took a breath, looked at my adult helper (my husband), breathed a quick prayer, and explained how God is perfect and the things we do wrong (sin) separates us from God. God sent his son, Jesus to take care of the wrong things we have done. When we say we are sorry and ask for forgiveness God wipes them away because of Jesus. Jesus died because of our sins. All we have to do is believe in Jesus and accept him.

The “first time” little boy raised his hand and shared that he had asked God for super-hero powers and wanted to know if God would give him those. “Nope,” I said, “God will give you eternal life in heaven after we die here on earth, but not superpowers.”

Surveying the room of eager faces, I knew that at least a couple of children were very interested in knowing more. So, I asked everyone to join me in a prayer. If they had already asked Jesus into their life, they could pray along with us and if they wanted to accept Jesus for the first time, they could pray the words with me.

At the Amen, I looked up to many excited faces and thought, I have to know how many new believers have joined the family! So, I asked if anyone had prayed that prayer for the first time today. Four hands shot into the air and one more slowly rose. I was shocked! Ok, I know, this is what I am here for, but FIVE new believers!! Wow!!

God was moving in lives today! So if there is a multitude of angels singing in heaven for one new believer, the heavens must be rockin’ with five!