I'd like to introduce you
to two of my friends.
They are a little different than you or me, but
there are some similarities too. Before I bring them out, though, I want
to talk about something that you can't live without: water.
Now, who can tell me how
long you can live without water? A week? 5 days? 4?
The answer is 3! That's
right we as humans can only live for three days without water! We can
live a whole week without food, but only 3 days without water. So water
is pretty important wouldn't you say? Well, I want to say to you there
is something else that we cannot live without even for one second! The
Bible says this thing is as important for life as water!
In John chapter 7 verse
38, Jesus said:
"He who
believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will
flow rivers of living water"
What is Jesus talking
about here? It's salvation. Salvation is compared to as living water. So
it must be important right? But what is salvation?
It's just as the verse
said: believing on Jesus. You see we all are sinners (Rom. 3:23). You
and I have all done bad things. I'm sure you can think of one (or more)
bad things that you have done. Because of this sin, the God who created
and loves us cannot be friends with us because He is perfect. Also, the
Bible says that the punishment for our sins is death (Rom. 6:23) and an
eternity separated from him in a lake of fire! This looks pretty bad for
us. There's no way we can save ourselves! But as I said before, God
loves us. He doesn't want us to be separated from Him for eternity. So
what did He do? He sent His Son, Jesus, to earth to take our punishment
of death. Jesus died on the cross for you! And just as our verse says
anyone who believes and trusts in Jesus' death as our only way to
heaven, we will have God's free gift of salvation! Or, "rivers of
living water"! This "water" of salvation protects us from
an eternity of separated from God in the lake of fire.
Now my two friends I have
here are going to help me show you how salvation protects us.
My first friend I have is
Bill. 
Everyone
say "Hi" to Bill.
Bill is a little different
that you and I. He's....well....a balloon. Now someone tell me what Bill
is filled with....Right, just air. There's nothing inside of Bill. Bill
represents someone who does not have salvation. He has never accepted
God's free gift of salvation. He's empty. He looks pretty sad too
doesn't he?
Well, that might be
because I have a candle with me also. This candle is going to represent
God's judgment. You see, when we die, God is going to judge us on only
two things: if we have salvation, or if we don't. So what do you think
is going to happen to Bill here when we put him through God's judgment?
Do you think He's going to last long? Should we find out? Ok...let's
see...
(POP!)
Wow, Bill did not last
long at all did he? Maybe like 2 seconds? There was nothing to protect
Bill when he went through God's judgment. He didn't have God's
salvation.
But I have another friend
with me who's a little different than Bill.
Everyone say
"Hi" to Bob.
Now
Bob's a little different than Bill. He's green instead of red. And he
looks a little happier. But there's one big difference...what is it?
("slosh,
slosh")
He's got water inside of
him! Now what did the Bible compare water to? Salvation! Right, Bob here
represents someone who has salvation. He has believed and trusted in
what Jesus did for him. He's got salvation to protect him.
So what do you think is
going to happen to Bob when he put him in the "candle" of
God's judgment? Will he pop like Bill? Last a little longer then pop?
Not pop at all?
Do you want to see what
happens to Bob? Ok, let's see what happens to him when we put him in
God's judgment.
Wow, nothing happens! Bob
turned a little black, but I left him in the candle for about 30 seconds
and nothing happened. He lasted a lot longer than Bill, huh? I could actually
leave Bob in the fire till the water boils and nothing would happen. But
what protected Bob that didn't protect Bill?
The water, right! Or,
salvation.
You see, the "living
water" of salvation does the same thing in our lives. It protects
us. When we go through God's judgment, we will not end up like Bill and
not last but 2 seconds, then have to spend an eternity separated from
God in a lake of fire. We will pass through and live forever with God in
heaven!
Just like you can't live
three days on earth without water, you cannot live one second after you
die without salvation. So don't you think salvation is pretty important?
Make sure you have
accepted God's gift of salvation, so that you will be like Bob and not
end up like Bill.
And
those are my two friends Bill and Bob.
(And
remember kids don't try this at home...there's only one Bill and Bob)
