Soap and the Gospel

"My dad is a computer programmer," Cooper told his friends. "He's really smart--and makes good money too."

"Well, my dad's a civil engineer," Liam chimed in proudly. "It takes a lot of skill to get that job!" He looked at Jonah, a new student. "What's your dad do?"

"He's a pastor," said Jonah. "He has a church on Elm street."

"A pastor?" Liam frowned. "It seems like there have been lots of pastors around for what--hundreds of years? So how come the whole world isn't changed by now?" Jonah didn't know what to say and was glad to see his father drive up just then.

Jonah told his dad about the conversation he'd had with Cooper and Liam. "I never thought of it before, Dad, but what Liam said makes sense. Why keep preaching when people have done it for so long and so many people don't change?"

Dad was thoughtful as he turned into a grocery store parking lot. "We need some soap," he said, "so how about running in to get it? I've been working in the yard all afternoon, and I'm really dirty. We'll talk about what Liam said when you come back."

When Jonah returned with the soap, Dad looked at the package. "What's the use of this stuff?" he said. "There's a whole aisle of soap in that store, and I'm still as dirty as can be." He sighed. "Why do stores still sell soap anyway?"

Jonah gaped at him. "You didn't wash up yet, Dad. You have to use soap for it to work!"

Dad started the car and grinned at Jonah. "Well, that disproves Liam's theory, now, doesn't it? I once heard an evangelist use that example to explain why he kept on preaching. He said we've had soap a very long time, and stores keep selling it even though some people don't use it and are still dirty. He pointed out that, like soap, the gospel has to be applied for it to work. We must continue to preach the gospel even though many people fail to believe it and be made clean and righteous through Christ."

Jonah grinned. "Well then, I'll keep preaching the gospel too. I can start tomorrow by telling Liam about the soap!" Jessica Dorfsmith