Our friend’s family had brought a large group of children to an animal park, and I had brought my family to join them. After enjoying the animals for a while, we were preparing to go home. Because there were so many children running around, my sister Vicky showed everyone how our parents used to call our family together with a special honk of the car horn.
Our parents had died years before, but the memory of that family honk would always remain in our minds. We laughingly told them about one time when I had moved back to my hometown after being away for some time. I lost track of where I was to meet Vicky outside of a shopping mall, so I just drove the car slowly around the mall, honking our special honk softly. Sure enough, she heard that special honk and drove her car up to meet me, like when we were children. We laughed because we both knew our parents wouldn’t be calling us and we responded anyway. There is something within Vicky and me that says “come” when we hear that sound.
Our friends listened to our special honk story, said “Good-bye,” and drove away. Vicky and I continued talking for a few minutes. All of a sudden, from a distance, we heard our family’s special honk loud and clear. Instantly, we both stopped talking, turned our heads and prepared to go in the direction of the sound. There across the parking lot were our friends watching us, with all the children laughing, because of our response.
I am listening for another special call. It won’t matter where I am or what I am doing; I will hear it. It won’t be a car honk; it will be a shout and a trumpet call. But not everyone will hear it. Our special car honk was meant for only our family, and this special shout and trumpet call will be heard only by members of God’s family. Every Christian is a child of God and a member of His family. He has promised us that whether we are already dead and buried or still alive, we will hear the Lord’s special call. “The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-1716For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16‑17)).
Our parents’ special honk called the family to come. The Lord’s special call will take His family home to heaven, and we might hear it today!
Will you hear that special call?
“What a silly monkey! No one could ever catch me that way,” said Andy.
“Me either,” said Alice.
“What are you talking about?” asked Bruce who had just joined them.
“Oh, the missionary was telling us this afternoon in Sunday school how they catch monkeys in Peru. He said the Indians there like to eat monkeys. So, to catch them they cut a round hole in a coconut just big enough for the monkey to stick his hand in. Then they put a peanut inside the coconut and tie the coconut to a tree. Along comes Mr. Monkey. He likes peanuts very much, you know. When he discovers there is a peanut inside the coconut, he puts his hand in to get it. But when he holds the peanut, his hand becomes a fist and it’s too big to pull out! But the silly thing about Mr. Monkey is that he won’t let go of the peanut. When the Indian sees Mr. Monkey he says, ‘Now, I will have a nice monkey dinner.’ ”
“Mr. Monkey sees him coming. He is afraid and squeals and chatters. Mr. Monkey pulls harder and harder to get his fist out of the coconut. But still he will not let go of the peanut. Then the Indian grabs him!”
“Silly monkey!” said Bruce.
“Yes,” said Andy, “but that is not all of the story. The missionary said that we think the monkey is silly, but we are just as silly.”
“Why?” asked Bruce.
“He explained that we are all sinners, and Satan has us trapped. If we do not run to the Lord Jesus Christ for safety, Satan will have us forever! We are just like that silly monkey, because we hang onto our sins and won’t let go of them. Anything that we hang onto that keeps us from coming to the Lord Jesus is like the peanut that made the monkey lose its life.”
“I’m glad I’m not like that monkey,” said Bruce. “I’m glad I know the Lord Jesus as my Saviour. My sins are gone forever!”
Boys and girls, what about you? Are you trying to hold onto the things of this world, rather than letting them go and turning to the Lord Jesus who loves you? No matter what it is, if it keeps you from asking the Lord Jesus to be your Saviour, you are just as silly as Mr. Monkey. Don’t wait any longer. Satan, your enemy, has his eye on you! He does not want you to come to the Lord Jesus. But Jesus is lovingly welcoming you to come, just as you are. Once you admit to God that you are a sinner and accept His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as your Saviour, your sins are gone and you are on your way to heaven to be with the Lord Jesus. “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)).
ML-12/27/1998
Bible Stories