Mother,” said Freddie, “Walter and I would like to take our bicycles and hike up into the hills tomorrow.”
“No, Freddie, not tomorrow. I fear that a storm is coming, and I want you to stay near home.”
Freddie went outside and told Walter the bad news. They had secretly planned this little venture together, and were quite looking forward to it, but now Mother had spoiled it all just because she thought a storm was coming.
“It looks sunny right now,” said Walter. “Do you think you could get away without your Mother knowing it if the sun is shining tomorrow morning?
Freddie thought carefully. He knew that it was wrong to deceive his Mother, but he was afraid Walter would laugh at him, so presently He said “All right, I’ll meet you at your house early in the morning if the sun is shining.”
The next morning came, and there were just a very few dark clouds to be seen. “Should I ask Mother again, or should I just slip away when she is not looking?” thought Freddie. I am sorry to say that Freddie disobeyed and soon was on his way with Walter to the hills.
Before dinner time they had reached the Inns, and there they hid their bicycles and began to climb. They had just reached the top of the highest hill when they were startled by a roar behind them. Boys always claim they are very brave, but this time both boys turned quickly with a look of fear on their faces. Another and louder roar followed quickly, and then they realized that a thunderstorm was coming —and coming rapidly. Fierce dark clouds were racing across the sky, and the hills were soon echoing with crashes of thunder.
Poor Freddie thought at once of his mother’s warning, and heartily wished that he had obeyed her. He knew that she would be worrying about him, and he knew too that God was watching him, for he had learned in Sunday school, “Thou God seest me.” God had seen Freddie’s disobedience, for He tells us in His word, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord.”
In another few moments the rain began to fall in torrents, and the frightened boys ran to find shelter.
Do you know, dear young reader, that there is a day of storm and judgment coming upon this world when many will wish they had a shelter? They are careless now, for the sun of this world’s pleasure shines upon them. Perhaps you, dear reader, have laughed at the one who warned you. Be warned once again, it is corning very soon, and when it comes, it will be too late to turn and seek shelter. The only safe shelter and hiding place is the Lord Jesus Christ. Is He your own Saviour?
Walter soon found a cave into which the boys crept. Here they crouched and shivered while brilliant flashes of lightning blazed back and forth across the sky. Before long, the rolling thunder slowed and stopped, the last drops of rain splashed down, and the boys came out of their hiding place.
Will God’s judgment just last a little while and then stop? No, God’s storm of judgment will last forever on every one who has rejected the love and mercy of His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus, for they will hear from His own lips, “Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire.” Matt. 25:4141Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: (Matthew 25:41).
What a glorious thing it is that God has warned us of this coming storm, and has provided a happy and sure shelter in His own dear Son.
Dripping and unhappy, the two disobedient boys found their bicycles, and hurried home to confess their wrong. And I hope they learned a lesson from their disobedience and its unhappy results.
God wants you to be happy, and so He has given His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to bear all the storm that should have fallen upon our guilty heads. When Jesus bowed His head upon Calvary’s cross, He was bearing God’s storm of wrath against sin, and now He offers forgiveness and shelter to all who will trust in Him alone.
ML 09/16/1951