They were a happy family on a holiday drive through the scenic Rocky Mountains. Two little children bounced in the back seat, until at last they grew tired and gave in to a quiet sleep.
Presently the winding road brought them to a breathtaking view. An enormous gorge had been cut by a churning, powerful stream of water that was roaring over a waterfall below.
“This we must see!” the father exclaimed to the mother. “I think we can easily drive down there a ways and take a better look.”
Excited and thrilled, they stopped the car and jumped out to enjoy the majestic scene. Leaving the children sleeping in the car, they walked hand-in-hand, spellbound, nearer to the edge.
Tap, tap! He felt it clearly, a distinct tap on his shoulder. Whirling around rather startled, the young father saw to his horror —his own car rapidly gaining speed on its way to the edge of the gorge. The hand brake had not been set! He nearly flew across the ground and . . . yes, thank God, he was able to jump in and stop the car in time! The children were safe and still asleep.
Who tapped that father on the shoulder? When Jesus was here on earth, He spoke once of little children, that “in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 18:1010Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 18:10)). Since no other human being was near, we may safely assume that an angel assigned to the care of these children had done the tapping. How very kind of God; it shows His loving care in action.
Little boy or girl, always remember that God loves you. However, you are growing up and perhaps even now have reached the age where you know that you will have to answer to God for all the wrong things you have thought, said and done. You have all those sins mounting up daily. Angels cannot save you from them. Sin will separate you forever from God, and payment must be made for them. Does He stop loving us because of all these naughty sins? No, absolutely not! God’s love was shown at its greatest, finest hour at Calvary’s cross. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24). Then we read in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John how that God accepted Jesus’ payment for sin and raised Him from the dead, and He is now gone to the right hand of God in heaven above. Have you been saved from the punishment your sins deserve?
ML-09/23/2007