We have here a little girl, a dog, and a cat, all very much interested, and at the same time somewhat afraid. What is the object of their interest, and the cause of their fear? Only a poor little toad! Doggy has one foot raised, as if ready to make a move toward the poor little helpless creature, but with all his natural courage and readiness to destroy smaller animals, such as rats, he hesitates about attacking the innocent toad. And pussy, so quick to destroy mice, or birds and the like, evidently does not consider it very safe to try her fortune with this little creature.
No doubt there is something in the appearance of the toad — something in the way God has made it — that serves as a kind of protection to it in its helplessness, so that neither dog, nor cat, nor little girl are disposed to touch it.
But after all this is only a question of one creature fearing another. And this is a matter of comparatively little importance. A question of infinitely greater importance is whether, or not, we fear God, who has created us, and to whom we must give an account.
We do not need to fear the beasts, nor man, nor Satan, though they may be able to kill us, if God permit. But we do need to fear God. Jesus says: “FEAR NOT THEM WHICH KILL THE BODY, BUT ARE NOT ABLE TO KILL THE SOUL: BUT RATHER FEAR HIM WHICH IS ABLE TO DESTROY BOTH SOUL AND BODY IN HELL.” Matt. 10:2828And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28). Oh! what a terrible thing it would be, if God, in the day of judgment, would cast us, soul and body, into hell fire.
But, while God is holy, and must punish sin,. He loves us also; and has given His Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins, so that we may be saved. Oh! how good He is. What love to give His dear Son to die for us! He is indeed to be feared, for He hates sin and must punish. it; but if we believe in ,Jesus, He will forgive us our sins, and make us His own children. And instead of casting us into hell, He will give us a place in eternal glory with Jesus His beloved Son.
How with you, dear young reader? Do you fear GOD? Have you believed on His Son? Are your sins forgiven? Think seriously of these questions, and answer them before it is too late.
Messages of God’s Love 4/9/1905