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Little Bernie was always getting in trouble for his mischievous ways. No matter how hard he tried, it seemed he just had a hard time following the rules his parents gave him. It seemed each time he would get in trouble, his mom would make the same statement, “for goodness’ sake.” One day, Bernie’s curiosity got the best of him and he asked her what that saying meant.

Mom told him it was a Bible term and she would be glad to explain it to him. He was excited to hear it, because he was tired of getting in trouble and he thought it might help him to make better choices. So, mom sat him down and took out her Bible and began to explain. She told him her saying came from the book of Psalms, but before she showed it to him, she wanted to show him another verse first. The verse she showed him was Psalms 25:8,

Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.

She explained to him that God was so good that He wanted sinners to know the way to keep from doing wrong and making bad choices. This excited Bernie and made him sad at the same time. He knew he had been disobedient to his parents, and this had upset them, but he now had to realize that his wrong doings—his sin—had also upset God.

Mom went on to explain how we all have sinned, and we all need God’s help to avoid sin and its consequences. That’s right, sin has consequences (bad results) that come from it. Here’s what mom read him:

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

Bernie was excited when he heard that God offered him a gift, as well as a way to make better choices. “What is the gift?” Bernie shouted out to mom. She turned in her Bible to the book of John and read him this:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

“Wow,” said Bernie, “you mean my sin got me in trouble with God, but Jesus came to die for my sins so I could be forgiven?” “Yes,” said mom, “that is where my saying ‘for goodness’ sake’ comes from. God wants to forgive us, not because we are good or deserve it, but because of His goodness’ sake.”

Then she took him back to Psalm 25 and read him verse 7.

Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O Lord. Psalms 25:7

By now Bernie’s eyes were filled with tears, for he knew that he had sinned, but God was willing to forgive him. “But how do I receive God’s gift?” cried Bernie. “By faith,” said mom. “By faith!” “Just believe that Jesus was who He said He was, and that He died on the cross for your sins. Then if you will decide that you don’t want to make those choices anymore and you are willing to ask God to forgive you, He has promised that He will.”

And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. Romans 4:21

“I do believe, mom! I really do,” cried Bernie. “I will mom, I will pray right now,” he also cried out.

Bernie bowed his head and prayed to God, asking Him to forgive Him and to change his heart. He told God how sorry he was for being disobedient to his parents, to his teachers, and most importantly to God and His Holy Word. As he prayed his final amen, Bernie felt different than ever before. He felt clean, and relieved as if he had laid down a heavy weight he had been carrying. He felt so light he thought he might even just float away.

Bernie was so excited he could not wait to tell everyone about the gift that he was given that day. On Sunday, he told the whole church what God had done and he was baptized too. From the day when Bernie asked God into his heart, he was never the same. He was still not perfect but the more he prayed and read his Bible, the easier it became to make the right choices. When he would feel tempted to do wrong, he would ask God to help him and instead of saying bad things or doing wrong, he would just look up to heaven and say “for goodness’ sake!”

You too can receive God’s gift if you are willing to do what Bernie did. First, Bernie had to realize that he had done wrong (sinned). Then, he had to believe that Jesus died for his sin and was willing to forgive him if he would just ask. Bernie also knew that he had to mean what he said to God more than anything he had ever said to anyone before. Finally, Bernie just had to ask God by faith to forgive him and believe God’s promise that He would. You too can call out to God for His forgiveness when He speaks to your heart by showing you the sins that you have done. On the day when God shows you that you need to be saved, call out to Him right then “for goodness’ sake!”

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13

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