Usually, for children, it is not so hard to be a Christian.  Each of you has come to church and SCS and you are nice to people all week long.  Right?  And you believe Jesus is the Messiah.  You are all Christians.  That is a good thing. 

Unfortunately, when you grow up, it becomes harder to follow Christ.  There are times when you must make choices between what you really want to do and what you think Jesus wants you to do.  YOU will face these times when YOU grow up.  Today’s story is about a grown-up that you have heard about, but you have never met him.  His name is Frank Heffelfinger.

Frank was a grown-up who made lots of money and had a beautiful home and a beautiful wife and a beautiful son.  But Frank took risks and made bad choices.  Very bad choices!  I won’t tell you all about them, just believe me. Sometimes this happens to grown-ups.

And so it was, one awful night, Frank lost everything he loved.  His wife died, his son went to live with Frank’s brother and Frank went to prison.  Frank is Barabas’s father.

At Bible Study Class in prison Frank was always curious about this riddle in today’s lesson:  “For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.” 

“What does that mean?” Frank would ask the Prison Chaplain.  This past month, Frank has learned what God is telling him in that riddle. 

Do you know what Frank wants more than anything in the whole wide world?  He wants to be with his son Barabas. (pick up Barabas and hug and love him)   He wants to be a daddy to Barabas.  And the good news is:  Frank will have served his full prison term and will be released from prison soon!

“Wow!” thought Frank.  “My dream has come true.  I’ll get to have my son again!  He is my whole life.”  Frank talked about this with the prison chaplain and with Uncle Floyd and with Pastor Ed.  And Frank prayed about it, day and night he prayed about how to do what is best for Barabas, the son he loves.

“For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.” 

Now, this is a sad part of the story . . because as profoundly as Frank loves his son Barabas, he has figured out the riddle.  He must do what is best for Barabas, not what is best for himself. 

And so it is, that when Frank leaves prison next month, he will move to CA to live with his cousin.  And he will find a job and he will send money to Uncle Floyd for Barabas.  Frank knows this is best for Barabas.  Frank will give up all his hopes and dreams to being a daddy to Barabas, (place Uncle Floyd close to Barabas)  because what is best for Barabas is to stay with his beloved Uncle Floyd.

Sometimes, when you are a grown-up, you must give up what you love the most for the better good.  That is what Frank Heffelfinger has done.  Because Frank is a Christian too.  He believes that Jesus is the Messiah.   And that is a good thing. 

THE END

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