Object Lessons

A Heart Made Whole

Objects: Two unused correspondence envelopes, two colored paper hearts, a small red cross, and scissors. (Cut down both sides and across the bottom of the envelope. Discard the irregular half of the envelope, and keep the complete side that bears the flap. Insert the side and flap in the uncut envelope with the gummed portion in the normal position for sealing the envelope. This will make a partition. Hide one of the colored hearts behind the partition, before sticking the two flaps together. This gives the envelope the appearance of being empty. Glue the red cross on the back of the envelope.)

What is in this envelope?

"Nothing that we can see."

This red cross on the outside of this envelope reminds us of the cross on which Jesus Christ shed His blood in order that we might be redeemed from sin. This torn heart reminds us of people who have sinned and need to be saved.

God is always calling sinners to forsake their sins and receive His salvation. In Hosea 6:1 we read, "Come, and let us return unto the Lord ... he will heal us . . . he will bind us up." In the New Testament we find another verse, written to Christians, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

We will place this heart, reminding us of a sinner's heart, in this envelope with the red cross, and then we will seal it. Next, we will cut the end of the envelope off with the scissors. (Withdraw the untorn heart from the back compartment. Force the envelope wide open, allowing the audience to look, into it.)

The sin-torn heart that comes to Christ for salva­tion is made whole again.