An American hunter was walking across his field one morning, when he heard the baying of hounds in the distance. As the dogs approached, he looked through a crack in a picket fence, and there saw a poor little fawn, wearied from the chase, its tongue hanging out, and its sides lathered with foam. The little thing had just strength enough to clear the fence, and stood there for a moment with its great liquid eyes gazing about in a most frightened manner.
Then it saw a hound leap over the fence not far away, and its first impulse was to take flight again. But instead of running away, it came and fell down in a heap at the man’s feet.
Our friend said: “I couldn’t stand there and see that poor little thing torn to pieces by the dogs—no, not after it had appealed to me for protection. As the hounds gathered around, I defended the little thing. I stood there and fought the dogs for half an hour. I just felt that all the dogs in the county could not capture that little fawn after its weakness had appealed to my strength.”
Poor sinners who have now cast themselves upon the mercy of the Lord, find in Him a Saviour and a Defender. On the other hand, those who try to outrun sin, Satan and the judgment of God, will do so only to their own destruction and everlasting sorrow.
“Flee from the wrath to come.” Flee to the Lord Jesus, the only Refuge of the soul. A Saviour and Friend, He defends all those who put their trust in Him. At Calvary’s cross, He stood in the breach, bore the mighty strokes of God’s judgment against sin, in order that all who trust Him might be spared. “Whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16).
In our weakness and need, we can never appeal to the Lord in vain. He says, “Whosoever will, may come;” and “Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37).
ML-09/04/1977