A few days ago, while we were in the car, my eight-year-old grandson said, “Poppy, I am going to ask you a question. But I don’t want you to go overboard.” I realized it was his opinion that I’d talk too much when I answered his question. I told him I would do my best not to go overboard, so he could go ahead and ask the question. He asked, “What happened to Paul?”
His six-year-old brother was in the car with us, so I wondered how I could answer that question in a way that a six-year-old and an eight-year-old would like, without going overboard. I explained how he was arrested. On the way to prison, he was shipwrecked and went to an island. He was released from prison and traveled around for a while. Then, an evil man named Nero arrested him again. Nero cut his head off.
I thought they would find that story interesting. It wasn’t too long and was full of adventure. I worried that the last sentence was inappropriate, so I added just a few more sentences. I didn’t want to end on such a negative note, so I told them that Paul was not afraid when he was put in prison. He wasn’t afraid to die either, since he had believed in Jesus for eternal life and knew he would live with Him forever.
I have to admit. I was proud of myself. It only took me a minute or so to explain those things. Both boys listened as I told the story of what happened to Paul. They didn’t say a word. I was sure I had hit a home run and definitely did not go overboard.
The eight-year-old burst my bubble. He told me that I had gone overboard, and that I always do. I was really confused. Then he explained. He said that I always bring up John 3:16 when I talk about the Bible.
I still had no idea what he was talking about. I never mentioned John 3:16. But he cleared up my confusion. He explained that when I said that Paul would live forever with Jesus, I was bringing that verse up. My grandson said he already knew Paul was going to live forever because he had believed in Jesus. Since I ended the story with the obvious, I had gone overboard.
Guilty as charged. I never realized that going overboard could be a good thing. I asked my grandson whether–if we’re going to talk about something too much–we could pick a better topic? In fact, I’d like to start a fad. Let’s bring up the offer of eternal life by faith alone in Christ every opportunity we get. Let’s see how often we can proclaim it in various everyday conversations.
It was pretty easy to bring it up in a conversation about a shipwreck and prison. Wouldn’t it be great if it became such a part of our lives that when people engage in a conversation with us it starts with: “Don’t go overboard. I already know that the believer has eternal life!”?
