Mr. and Mrs. Daniels and their four children were taking a trip by car into Canada. The two girls, Bethany and Jenny, were reading and chatting in the back seat. Two-year-old Brian was also in the back seat, strapped snugly into his car seat. He liked watching the big trucks go by. Baby Jeremy, tired after a couple of hours’ ride, was fussing in his infant seat, up front between Mr. and Mrs. Daniels.
Suddenly Mr. Daniels exclaimed, “Hey, look at the hood!”
“Smoke!” cried Mrs. Daniels. “The car’s going to explode!”
Mr. Daniels quickly pulled over to the side and stopped the car. He ordered everyone to get out as fast as they could. Bethany was fumbling with the strap of Brian’s car seat. It wouldn’t come undone. Mrs. Daniels climbed in back to help her, while Mr. Daniels grabbed the infant seat with Jeremy in it. Then they all ran into a field so they’d be out of danger if the car exploded.
Will you be out of danger when God destroys the earth? God warns us that because of sin it will be burned up. “The heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” 2 Peter 3:1010But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (2 Peter 3:10). But along with the warning, God has provided a place of safety for anyone who will accept His loving offer. “But whoso hearkeneth unto Me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.” Proverbs 1:3333But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil. (Proverbs 1:33).
After they had watched the car for a few minutes, Mr. Daniels began to wonder if what they thought was smoke was really steam. He cautiously went up to the car, then carefully lifted the hood. Yes, it was steam. But Mr. Daniels still didn’t know what to do about it. However, there was one thing he could do... he bowed his head and asked the Lord Jesus to help him. You see, Mr. and Mrs. Daniels have both accepted God’s loving offer. They have accepted His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus, as their Saviour, believing that He died for their sins. They are in that place of safety and belong to Him. They can go to Him about any problem because of His promise, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” Psalms 50:1515And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. (Psalm 50:15).
As Mr. Daniels stood by the steaming car, a pickup truck stopped and a young man jumped out. Running up to the car, he asked if he could do anything to help.
“I’d be glad if you could,” answered Mr. Daniels gratefully.
The young man looked under the hood. He saw the problem and knew just what to do. The radiator hose had burst. It didn’t take him long to cut off the bad part and clamp the good part firmly back to the radiator where it belonged.
The Lord Jesus knows just what is needed in our lives too. He knows our problem, that we have sin in our hearts. He understands our danger, that all sin must be punished. And He has provided the answer for it all; He bore the punishment for sin on Calvary’s cross so that we might go free. He has proven His love for us. “In this was manifested [shown] the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live [have new life] through Him.” 1 John 4:99In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. (1 John 4:9).
That helpful young man had a can of antifreeze in his car and a thermos of ice water too. He poured both into the radiator. Another car had stopped to help and had more antifreeze which was added.
Soon the family was on their way again, thanking the Lord Jesus for His goodness to them. “O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever.” Psalms 107:11O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. (Psalm 107:1).
Have you accepted God’s loving offer? Do you believe that His Son, Jesus, died for your sins? Are you in that place of safety?
ML-04/24/1988