Mabel still lived on the little farm in the country. She loved her flowers and she kept the lawn and roadside bank mowed so it all looked nice. After spending a day with her sister in town, she decided that evening that the grass needed mowing before the weekend.
Mabel got out the ride-on mower and worked at cutting the lawn first and then the roadside bank. As she was finishing up, she thought to herself, One more pass on this bank and it will be done. But suddenly the mower overturned, and Mabel was left lying on the bank beside the road! She found she was unable to move or help herself, and to add to the problem, it was beginning to get dark.
What a frightening spot to be in - badly injured at the side of the road, helpless and with darkness coming on! Have you ever felt the frightening despair of serious trouble and of not being able to do anything to help yourself? Have you ever felt this way about the serious problem of your sins and not found help or peace? The good news is that there is wonderful hope and peace for you right now, with no more waiting. But this was not the case for Mabel as she lay injured, alone and in pain.
It was nearly dark when a motorcyclist rode by. Mabel waved the one arm she could use as a signal for help. But the motorcyclist, thinking it was a friendly wave, gave a friendly wave in return and went on. As she lay there in her helpless distress and discouragement, she began to call for help.
A Bible verse tells us that we can call on God in our helplessness. It says, “Call upon Me in the day [or time] of trouble” (Psalm 50:1515And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. (Psalm 50:15)). He knew all about the sinner’s guilt and helplessness in his or her sins and provided a plan long ago - God’s answer to set the sinner free. It’s available to you today, right now, with no waiting. And God knew all about Mabel’s distress and helplessness, and He had a plan for her too.
A short distance away, a neighbor took his little grandchild out into the backyard to listen for lambs calling in the pasture. Grandpa said to his grandchild, “Now be real quiet, and maybe we can hear one calling.” As they stood quietly listening, it wasn’t a lamb they heard calling; it was a person they heard calling, “Help! Help!” Grandpa knew somebody was in trouble, and he hurried to find out what was wrong.
God tells us about His plan of salvation for sinners in the Bible. He tells us over and over that He loves each one of us so much He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus, to die on Calvary’s cross for us. And while Jesus was hanging on that cross, He shed His blood that has cleansing power to wash away the sins of any sinner who will come to Him in the helplessness of his or her sins. Is this where you are right now? You only need to tell Him that you are a sinner and accept His offer to wash away your sins. He promises, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:1313For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13)).
Mabel was so thankful that her neighbor came as soon as he heard her call. She was soon taken to the hospital where they found several broken bones. The Lord Jesus loves you and is offering to be your Saviour today, right now, with no waiting. All you have to do is call to Him. He says, “Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:2424And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. (Isaiah 65:24)). Have you called to Him about your sins?
ML-05/21/2000