Dead Religion  (Read Matthew 28:1-9)

"Is not!" Michael's voice rang throughout the house.

"Is too!" Sandy shouted back at her older brother.

"Oh, Sandy, just wait till you're older and have learned more about the world," said Michael Crossly. "Then you'll be more broad-minded."

"Well, Dad's older than you, and I bet he agrees with me!" Sandy replied.

"Whoa! What's all the shouting about?" asked Dad, coming into the room.

"Michael's been learning about different religions, and he thinks they're as good as ours," explained Sandy. "But Jesus is the only way to heaven. Isn't that right, Dad?"

"Well, some of the leaders we've been learning about were real good people," muttered Michael.

"Better not be too broad-minded, Michael," Dad cautioned. "Have they told you about Mohammed's tomb? Or Buddha's grave?"

"What do you mean, Dad?" Michael was a little puzzled. "We did learn about Buddha and Mohammed."

"Well, if you wanted to, could you visit the graves, or tombs, of those men?" asked Dad.

Michael shrugged. "I suppose so," he said. "I could visit Jesus' grave, too."

"If you did, what would you find in those graves?" asked Dad.

"I know!" cried Sandy, almost jumping from her seat. "Just like Mary and the disciples on Easter morning, you'd find nothing in Jesus' grave. At least, not a body like in those other graves."

Dad nodded. "Sandy's right, Michael," he said. "Jesus not only died to pay the price for our sins, but he rose again so that we can have eternal life. Those men you are learning about may have been wise teachers. In Fact, many of them mimic the teachings of Jesus. But not one of them took our sins upon himself, died, and then came back to life in order to save us. They are still dead. If you choose to trust in any of them, you are choosing death, not life." L.W.

How about you? - Has anyone ever told you that you should be "broad-minded" and believe there are other ways to God? The Bible says there is no other way than through Jesus Christ. He died, but he rose again. Trust only in him, and praise God for a living Savior.

Key: Jesus is Alive

Memorize: "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6 , NKJV

This is out of the book "The One Year Book of Devotions for Kids"  BUY IT  Copyright @ 1993 Children's Bible Hour

Updated 9/18/00