Back and forth, back and forth ran Bushy Tail. Up and down the big oak tree he ran all day long. Then when the hickory nuts were ripe, what a mess he made! Who? Why, Bushy Tail, the squirrel. While up in the hickory tree he would chew off the outside shell, letting it fall to the ground, so he could get to the nut. The shells were scattered all over the sidewalk. What a mess!
As Mark watched from the window of Grandma’s house he asked, “Grandma, why does Bushy Tail collect all those acorns and nuts?”
Grandma was stirring a batch of bubbling, boiling, apple jelly. Mark watched her as she turned off the heat under the pan. One by one the hot jars were filled. Then she poured hot, melted wax on the top of each jar. All of the pans and jars sure made the kitchen a mess.
“You see, Mark,” said Grandma, “our friend, Bushy Tail, is doing just what I’m doing. Only he’s out gathering acorns and hickory nuts, and this morning I was out picking the apples. He’s storing his nuts in the old tree, and I’m storing the apples in these jars. Bushy Tail and your Grandma are both getting ready for the cold, winter months. And we are both making a mess!”
“But you feed Bushy Tail all winter long,” said Mark. “How come he needs all those acorns, too?”
“Well,” answered Grandma, “God has created something in that little squirrel that tells him to get ready for the winter, and nothing will stop him from doing it! The Bible tells us that little animals, like Bushy Tail, can teach us a lesson. It tells us to study their ways and habits and to become wise.” Grandma then read the verses to Mark about the ants, the conies, locusts and spider which God says “are exceeding wise” (Prov. 30:24-2824There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: 25The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer; 26The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; 27The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; 28The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces. (Proverbs 30:24‑28)).
“Remember, too,” she continued, “that other animals have their shelters to go to when danger is near. Have you ever watched our little friend Chippy, the chipmunk, that plays around in the front yard?”
“Sure. When he hears a noise, or when the dog comes out, he runs in that hole under the step.”
“That’s right,” said Grandma. “And what do you suppose can reach him in there?”
“Nothing, I guess,” replied Mark.
“That’s right. Not even the rain gets in there. That’s what the Lord means when He tells us to study these little animals to become wise. He tells people who are busy thinking, planning and doing things to beware of the judgment that is coming. And we must get ready now, or it will be too late.”
“How?” asked Mark.
“By trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ,” said Grandma. “He suffered on the cross for our sins. Now all those who trust in Him are covered by His blood. And God says, ‘When I see the blood, I will pass over you.’ Exodus 12:1313And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. (Exodus 12:13). The punishment we deserve has already fallen on the Lord Jesus.”
“Then, once we are saved,” she continued, “nothing can separate us from His love and care. He is like the stone step that hides the chipmunk. The pouring rain hits the step, and the dog can sniff around it and bark all day, but the chipmunk is safe.”
Mark had nothing more to say, but he sure had lots to think about as he watched Bushy Tail wisely getting ready for winter. What about you? Are you prepared for the judgment that is coming on this world? If you have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your own Saviour, then you are as safe as you can possibly be. The Lord Jesus is coming very soon. He is going to take out of this world all who have trusted in Him. Are you ready? The time is very short. Accept Him right now as your Saviour.
ML-02/22/1981