It was the close of a warm day late in the month of August, and little Franz Hoffmeister was playing near the cottage door with his baby sister Karine. His older sister, Therese, was cleaning up after the evening meal while his ten-year-old brother, Robert, was working on a project. They lived in a little Swiss house called a chalet. Twelve-year-old Therese was taking care of the other children while their father was away guiding a party of travelers over the mountains. Since their mother had died about a year before, Therese was often in charge of the others while their father worked.
Just after sunset Therese put the two little ones to bed. Robert bolted the cottage door, and soon all four children were sound asleep. In the middle of the night Therese was awakened by a sudden shock, as though something had struck the little cottage and made it shake all over. She was frightened for a moment, but then all was very still, and, being tired after her day’s work, she soon fell asleep again.
Some hours later in the dark cabin, little Karine awoke and called loudly for her breakfast. Therese was lying awake, and Franz called out in the darkness, “When will it be morning?” Therese did not know but decided to get up. It was still strangely dark, and they could not find any matches, so they dressed as well as they could without a light.
Then Robert unlocked and opened the door, but was immediately knocked to the floor, half buried in cold, soft snow. An avalanche of snow had slid down from the mountains and buried their home. This was why it was dark. The whole cottage was buried under the snow. While they were sleeping they did not know they were in danger.
Are you in danger and don’t realize it? God is looking down upon you, but if you are not saved, then “your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you.” Isaiah 59:22But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. (Isaiah 59:2). It may be that you are still “asleep” as to your danger. If so, wake up now and cry to God, for His great salvation has already been provided for you. “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth.” Psalms 145:1818The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. (Psalm 145:18).
“What can we do, Robert?” asked Therese.
“I don’t know,” he answered.
“Will Father dig us out?” asked Franz.
“I’m afraid he won’t be able to find us,” answered Therese.
“Then will we die here in the dark? Oh, if only I could see you, Therese,” Franz said, starting to cry.
The hours wore on. Poor little Karine cried until she was nearly exhausted and all four children huddled fearfully together.
At last they heard a noise, a heavy thud on the roof. Then they heard scraping noises around the door, and suddenly the beautiful sunshine came streaming through the open door from a hole through the snow. “Little Franz, are you there?” someone called.
“Yes, yes,” cried the chorus of four voices from below. In a few moments the neighbors carried the children out to fresh air and their father who had been shoveling since early morning.
Salvation from above had come for them just as it has come for you. The Lord Jesus came down from heaven, down into this dark world to save poor sinners like you. Will you have Him? When He calls, “Whosoever will,” will you answer “yes, yes,” just as the four children in the buried house did? It is very simple. It is God’s work, not yours. Salvation is already prepared for you. Do not sleep any longer. He is calling you today, calling from above. Won’t you listen and answer Him?
ML-06/24/1984