A Bear Pit

A GENTLEMAN was once making inquiries in Russia about the method of catching bears in that country.
He was told that to trap them, a pit was dug several feet deep, and after covering it over with turf, leaves, etc., some food was placed on the top. The bear, if tempted by the bait, easily fell into the snare; but he added,
"If four or five happen to get in together, they all get out again."
"How is that?" asked the gentleman.
"Well, they form a sort of ladder by stepping on each other's shoulders, and thus make their escape."
"But how does the last one get out?"
Ah! these bears, though not possessing a mind and soul such as God has given us, can yet feel gratitude, and they won't forget the one who has been the chief means of procuring their liberty.
"Scampering off, they bring the branch of a tree, which they let down to their poor brother, enabling him speedily to join them in the freedom in which they rejoice."
Sensible bears, we should say; they act a great deal better than some people we hear about, who seldom help anyone but themselves.
The bear pit makes us think of another pit — the pit into which man fell through sin. We all were once in that pit, and as guilty before God we came under His sentence of judgment. "For all have sinned"; . . . "the wages of sin is death" . . . and "after this the judgment." (Rom. 3:23; 6:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)
23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23); Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27).)
We should all perish in that pit were it not for the love of Jesus, "yon lovely Man" at God's right hand. We did not love Him, but He loved us and came down from the glory to save us.
In the story of Joseph we read that he was put into a pit by his brothers, but it says, "there was no water in it."
Ah, it was not so with the blessed Lord. In those dark hours on Calvary, when He was bearing that judgment our sins deserved, He cried:
"Save Me, 0 God; for the waters are come in unto My soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow Me." "All thy billows and Thy waves passed over Me." (Psalms 69, 42; Jonah 2.)
When He died upon the cross, His work of redemption was done. Now the sinner who trusts in Jesus can go free.
And now, dear reader, have you been delivered from the pit? Are your sins gone? Are you on the Rock? Are you safe in Christ? Can you point to Jesus and say, He died for me?
Memory Verse: "HE BROUGHT ME UP ALSO OUT OF A HORRIBLE PIT, OUT OF THE MIRY CLAY, AND SET MY FEET UPON A ROCK." Psalm 40:22He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. (Psalm 40:2).
Messages of the Love of God 5/18/1958