Clint had a summer job trapping gophers. His equipment was a bucket with about a dozen gopher traps, and for each trap there was a metal rod with a brightly colored plastic tape tied around its top. Wherever he saw a gopher hole he’d set a trap and stick a metal rod right through the trap into the ground to anchor it. The purpose was to keep the coyotes from running off with the gopher, trap and all. It also showed Clint exactly where the traps were located. Every day he would check the traps.
Clint was busy with his traps all summer and into late fall. When the ground began to freeze, he brought all his rods and traps home, but he forgot to bring the bucket.
We have all forgotten to do certain things. But there are some things that are too important to forget. Have you heard the good news that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners? Do you know that you are a sinner? Have you heard that Christ Jesus died for you, was buried and the third day rose again from the dead, just as God had said He would? Every time you hear this good news it is a reminder that right now is the time to be saved from your sins. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)). The question of your sins is too important to forget!
Winter came, and each time the family drove by the field they saw Clint’s bucket sitting out there. And each time someone told Clint to go get it and bring it home. He said he would, but he just never got around to it.
Spring came and with it very heavy rains. Many areas were flooded. One day Clint’s mother looked out the window and saw that the driveway of an elderly neighbor had been so badly rutted by the floodwaters that it could not be used. That’s strange, she thought. They have a culvert running under their driveway that always carries away any excess water. When she saw her neighbor over by his driveway, she decided to go find out what was happening.
“What seems to be the problem, Mr. Miller?” Clint’s mother asked as she walked over.
“I’ve never felt more helpless in my life,” Mr. Miller said. The poor old man had one arm in a sling and was trying to dig with his one good arm.
“What do you think is the trouble?” Clint’s mother asked.
“Well, I could kick myself,” he answered. “I had noticed a bucket in the field all winter, and I told myself that I should go out and pick it up, but I just never got around to it. I’m afraid that bucket must be stuck in the culvert now.”
Clint’s mother felt awful. She said sadly, “I know whose bucket that is. . . . It belongs to my son.”
What a confession to have to make! The rushing water had picked up the forgotten bucket and washed it right into the mouth of the culvert where it fit like a cork in a bottle. Since the water could no longer run through the culvert, it soon reached the level of the road, running swiftly over it and washing much of it away.
Although it was impossible to see the cause of the flooding, because it was under more than three feet of water, they all knew it was that bucket. And even though no one can actually see your wicked sins, if you haven’t been cleansed by the precious blood of Christ your sins are still there. They are going to cause you a lot of trouble if you forget about them and leave them hidden. Proverbs 28:1313He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. (Proverbs 28:13) says, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper.” Forgetting about your sins will bring dreadful results. Romans 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23) warns that “the wages of sin is death.” But the rest of the verse has the remedy: “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Receive the Saviour and eternal life right now before it is too late.
ML-08/18/1996