WHILE the merry group area busily occupied upon the dry bank of sand, the rising tide will often creep up unseen, and, quietly flowing higher and higher, will, if they are still unwatchful, quite surround them.
I can remember several occasions when this happened to my brother and myself. We had built and decorated our castle, and were watching the rapidly approaching waves, which soon surrounded our sandy building; and then we had taken it in turns to stand on the top while the waves swept round us: waiting until the waves went back to make again for the shore. This we would often do until our castle was nearly leveled, and then we would think of our return. It was then we found that the water had encircled us, and nothing was left but quickly to take our shoes and stockings off, and paddle through the water back to the shore.
The boy in our picture is shouting out to those busy little ones by the water’s edge, to warn them that the water is surrounding them, and to hasten them in towards the shore.
Children ought to be very thankful for such warnings, for many, many a little life has been lost through tarrying too long near the ruins of their castle, instead of being watchful as to a way of escape, and returning before the sand is covered.
How many people there are who do not seem to be on the look out as to the safety of their precious souls; and many are far more foolish even than that, for though they have been warned again and again of their danger, they still go on careless and unmoved.
Do you, young readers, know your peril? Do you know that judgment is coming? Have you not been warned to flee to the Saviour who waits to receive you? Then why do you still tarry? As the rising tide deepens every moment, and makes it more and more dangerous to wade through, so as every day goes by, it becomes more and more difficult for you to escape.
Now God’s messengers are going out, and are calling to lost sinners, who linger in the place of danger, to come to the Lord Jesus now, while the door of salvation is still open—while it is still the accepted time, and the day of salvation.
ML 07/14/1918