Kris and Kell woke up in their hotel in Oklahoma and wondered what they were supposed to do next. Kell said, “Usually when we go to breakfast, we get some kind of message about where we should go next, so let’s go to breakfast.” It was a great idea because they were very hungry. When they finished breakfast, they still had not gotten any message, so they went back to their room.
Kris and Kell waited most of the morning, but no one came to give them a message. Finally, Kris said, “I do not want to stay in this room all day, we could go out and drive around and find something to do.” This seemed like a good idea, so they packed their bags and went down to their car. When they got to the car, there were two women waiting for them! One of the women said, “What took you so long? We have been waiting here for three hours! We are going to be late! Get in the car quickly, I will drive!”
Kris and Kell got into the car with the two women, and they flew out of that parking lot, the tires of the car were spinning and throwing pebbles in all directions! They were going so fast that Kris and Kell thought they were going to die! Fortunately, the ride in the car did not take very long. Soon they arrived at a small airport and the woman jammed on the brakes and the car skidded to a stop!
The first woman said, “All of you get out of the car, you will not need it anymore. I will return the car to the rental agency!” Kris, Kell, and the other woman got out of the car. The woman said, “I am going to fly you to the Nevada Northern Railroad in Ely, Nevada. Come with me to the plane.”
Kris and Kell were terrified! If this woman flew a plane like the other woman had driven the car, they would surely crash and die! Soon however, they saw that this woman was very different from the other woman, she was very careful and was not in a hurry. Kris and Kell relaxed and thought that this was going to be a good trip after all, then they saw the airplane! It was small! There was barely room in the airplane for them and their luggage! The woman calmly assured them that the plane was safe and that they would get to their destination in Nevada with no problems.
Soon they took off and Kris and Kell found that the airplane ride was fun. They enjoyed watching the woman fly the airplane. Kell was sitting in the front seat next to the woman, and the woman even let Kell steer the airplane for a while. Kris was terrified when Kell was flying the airplane, but she did a good job, and the woman was right there to help her.
While they were flying, Kris opened Kell’s tablet and looked up information about the Nevada Northern Railroad. Kris found that this railroad was built to serve the copper mines in the area in the early 1900’s. When the mines shut down, the railroad shops and equipment were left just the way they were. Nothing was destroyed, so when the railroad was opened as a museum, all the shops and equipment were preserved just like they had been in the early 1900’s.
Kris found some information on a very special locomotive at the museum. Locomotive 40 hauled the last train from the copper mines and hauled the first trains when the railroad was opened as a museum. Locomotive 40 is a steam engine that was built in 1910, so it is over 100 years old.
This locomotive was built for speed, most of the other locomotives on this railroad were designed to be extra powerful, so they were not as fast. There is a rumor at the museum that at one time locomotive 40 got up to 100 miles per hour, but nobody knows if this is true or not. Also, Locomotive 40 has never left the Nevada Northern Railroad, it is the only locomotive in Nevada which has never left its home rails, it has never gone anywhere else! Kris could not wait to get to the museum to see this locomotive, he hoped that locomotive 40 would be pulling the train that day!
When they got to the museum they were amazed! It truly did look like a place from the early 1900’s. They saw several old steam locomotives, and one of them was steamed up and ready to haul the train for that day, but it was not locomotive 40! There were also several old diesel locomotives, old passenger cars, and old freight cars. Kris and Kell rode the train through the hilly Nevada countryside, and the train even went through a tunnel! They also got to ride on a handcar and see a high-rail car from the 1950’s.
Kris and Kell enjoyed everything that they saw, but Kris wondered why they did not see locomotive 40.
Kris and Kell toured the old depot and then went on a tour of the locomotive repair shop. They finally found locomotive 40, it was in the repair shop, and it was taken apart!
There were pieces of the locomotive laying all over the place! Kris was sad and wondered what had happened to his favorite locomotive. The tour guide told them that locomotive 40 was in the shop for extensive repairs and rebuilding. After over 100 years, many of the parts were worn out and it would not be safe to keep operating the locomotive in that condition. So, they were rebuilding the locomotive. They were inspecting and testing each part and replacing every part that was worn out. When they are finished, locomotive 40 will be as good as new and will be able to faithfully pull trains at the museum for many years in the future! They are hoping that locomotive 40 will be finished and running again in 2027. Kris was disappointed that he could not see locomotive 40 in action, but he promised himself that in the future he would come to this museum again to see locomotive 40 run.
The tour guide also told Kris that people can also sign up to get a chance to drive one of the locomotives. It costs money and the person must study and learn the safety rules of the railroad and listen and follow all the instructions of the engineer that travels with them on their trip. Kris promised himself that he would save his money, learn everything in the rule book, and someday come back to the museum and get a chance to drive locomotive 40!
It had been a wonderful day at the museum, Kris and Kell had a lot to talk about when they got to their hotel that night.
Lesson Learned about God
Kell said, “Kris, you enjoyed this museum so much, why don’t you tell me what you learned today that will teach us more about God.”
Kris thought for a few minutes and then said, “I think I learned about faithfulness today. Locomotive 40 has been a faithful locomotive for more than 100 years. This locomotive has pulled more trains than any other locomotive, it is the fastest and most dependable locomotive at the museum. Even though it is torn apart for repairs right now, it will be put back together and be like a new locomotive and should serve faithfully for many more years in the future.
Faithfulness is one of the characteristics of God and it should also be a characteristic of every Believer in Jesus. The Bible tells Believers that they should be serve God faithfully. Being a follower of Jesus is not a short-term commitment; it is a life-long commitment.
There are times when God takes us through difficult times when we cannot serve faithfully, just like locomotive 40 is torn apart for repairs, but God always restores us so that we can serve Him faithfully!
At the end of this life when we reach heaven, all Believers long to hear God say, ‘Well done, you good and faithful servant’. I cannot wait to hear those words someday!”
In the Bible in Lamentations 3:22-23 it says:
The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.
In the Bible in II Timothy 2:13 it says:
If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny who He is.
In the Bible in Luke 16:10 Jesus says:
If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.
In the Bible in James 1:12 it says:
God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
Be faithful to Jesus, when we give our life to Him, it is a life-long commitment, our life is not our own anymore! Each of us will fail many times, but do not be discouraged; God will remain faithful to us and will restore us to faithfulness to Him if we let Him do it. No matter what life throws at you, keep going, keep following Jesus. Be faithful!
Report to the grandmother:
- At the travel agency – God has a good plan for us. Jeremiah 29:11
- Florida – God is watching over us, we do not need to be fearful. Psalms 23
- Wisconsin – Temptations. I Corinthians 10:13, Proverbs 14:12, I John 1:9
- Minnesota – Never take your eyes off Jesus. Matthew 14:22-33
- Kentucky – God’s Word (the Bible) is the truth! John 17:17
- Louisianna – Choose Heaven and the Tree of Life. Revelation 20:11-15, Revelation 21:27 thru 22:5
- Illinois – God is in control. Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8:28-30, Proverbs 16:9
- New Mexico – God is our place of safety. Psalms 46:1-3, Psalms 91:1-2, Psalms 18:1-2, John 14:1-3
- Alabama – Training for heaven. I Peter 1:18-21, I John 3:2-3, Ephesians 5:1-2, I Peter 2:21, II Timothy 4:6-8
- Georgia – Sin erodes a person’s life and brings death. Galatians 5:19-21, Romans 3:22-25a
- Texas – Jesus offers abundant life. John 10:10, Mark 12:29-31.
- Kansas – Humans are filled with hatred and evil. Genesis 8:21-22, Romans 3:21-25a.
- South Carolina – Reminder of the Crucifixion. Isaiah 53:3-9
- Arkansas – Jesus is Crowned with Glory and Honor. Hebrews 2:9-10, Revelation 19:16, John 11:25-26
- Idaho – Times of Refreshing. Acts 3:19-20a, Matthew 11:28-30, Isaiah 40:28-31
- Washington State – Obeying God is Important! James 1:22-25, James 4:17
- Oregon – Do not let your first love for Jesus erode. Revelation 2:4-5a, Psalms 51:10-12
- Ohio – We are secure in God’s hands. Isaiah 41:13, Psalms 139:9-10, Psalms 73:23-28.
- Iowa – God is in control: Past, Present, & Future. Hebrews 13:8, Revelation 4:8.
- South Dakota – Believers are the family of God. Ephesians 2:19-21, John 1:12-13, Ephesians 1:5, I Thessalonians 5:15-18.
- Indiana – Win the Race! I Corinthians 9:24-27, Matthew 25:21
- Michigan – Cost of following Jesus. Luke 14:27-33.
- Missouri – The Book of Life. Revelation 20:11-15.
- New Jersey – The Light of the World. Philippians 2:14-15, Matthew 5:14-16.
- New York – God will meet our needs. Philippians 4:19-20.
- Pennsylvania – A special place and rest in heaven. John 14:1-3, Hebrews 4:9-10
- Montana – Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches. John 15:5
- Alaska – Jesus is the light of the world. John 1:4-5, John 8:12, Revelation 21:23-27, Revelation 22:5
- Maine – God’s Holy Spirit is like the wind: invisible, powerful and always working! John 3:8, Acts 1:8, John 14:26, Romans 8:26-27
- Massachusetts – God is preparing a special place for each believer. John 14:1-3.
- Maryland/Virginia – Perfect love overcomes fear. I John 4:17-19.
- Washington DC – Communion. I Corinthians 11:23-26.
- Virginia/West Virginia – Baptism. Romans 6:3-5, Colossians 2:12-15.
- Delaware – Jesus is returning. John 14:2-3, I Thessalonians 4:16-18, I Corinthians 15:51-53
- Rhode Island – Believers are like a lighthouse. Matthew 5:14-16, Philippians 2:14-15.
- North Dakota – Dealing with temptations. I Corinthians 10:13, James 1:13-15.
- Colorado – Faith and Trust. Hebrews 11:1-2, Proverbs 3:5-6, Ephesians 2:8-9.
- North Carolina – God guides and protects Believers. Psalms 23:3-4, Psalms 37:23-24, Isaiah 41:10.
- Connecticut – The Bible is true. John 17:17, II Timothy 3:16-17, I Peter 1:20-21.
- New Hampshire – Only God gives a meaningful & fulfilling life. Ecclesiastes 12:8-10, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.
- Vermont – God is changing Believers. I Peter 2:21, Romans 8:29, II Corinthians 3:18, Ephesians 2:10.
- Wyoming – Believers will get a new body. Philippians 3:20-21, I Corinthians 15:42-44, II Corinthians 5:1-4.
- Oklahoma – This earth is not our home. Philippians 3:20-21, I Peter 2:11, Hebrews 11:16.
- Nevada – Faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23, II Timothy 2:13, Luke 16:10, James 1:12