Art was working his way through school by selling books, many years ago. He lived in England, and although he was only 15 years old, he was sent alone to a group of islands off the west coast of Scotland to sell to the few people who lived there. There, in what is known as the Outer Hebrides, he rode an old bicycle around the lonely, windy islands, day after day, trying to get people to buy the books he was carrying.
For quite a few weeks he lived in the town of Stornoway on Lewis Island. Every day he rode all the way across the island to the villages on the other side. It was a long, tiring trip — he went 12 miles without passing a single house and sometimes riding against rain and wind the whole way. Each day he made it a little farther trying to sell his books, until finally he got to the most northerly point. Beyond that there was only a lighthouse — no more people who might want to buy his books.
He then moved his bike and other few belongings by boat to the next island, called North Uist, where he found a small room he could rent. On this island he again followed a road that went all around the island, riding and walking through villages he never knew existed. What an adventure for a 15-year-old!
Art finished on North Uist Island and decided to go to South Uist Island. He was told that it was possible to walk between the islands on a sand strip that was above the water level at low tide. He liked that idea, because it would save him having to pay boat fare to make the short trip. Leaving his bike behind one morning, Art walked to the beach when it was low tide. Sure enough, there was a sand strip going straight out toward South Uist Island. Looking it over carefully, he decided that it wasn’t going to be quite so easy. Running through the sand were channels of water 10 to 20 feet wide, but there was no way to tell how deep they were.
As he was taking off his shoes, he saw two men begin to cross, coming toward him. He watched where they hurriedly crossed the channels. It looked easy, so he started off.
Crossing the first channel was simple since he could see the footprints where the two men had just crossed. The water was only a few inches deep. But when he reached the second channel, he was not as sure where to cross. As he stepped in, he discovered that it was much deeper than it looked. He backed up, went to another spot, rolled up his pant legs, and stepped in again. Although the water reached to his knees, he had no trouble crossing this channel either.
When he reached the third channel, about halfway between the two islands, he began to worry. The channel was much wider than he had first thought. But, he thought, the other men crossed it, so I can too. He had not yet realized what a dangerous thing he was attempting, and there was no one to warn him of his danger.
Art stood at the edge of this wide third channel looking for the place where the men had crossed, but he could not find it. Then he realized that the water in the channel was no longer still. It was moving — moving quite rapidly. Bits of seaweed, pieces of wood and sea foam were floating by. The tide was coming in! Looking around him, Art was horrified! Instead of a large area of sand, there was only water. It looked like the whole Atlantic Ocean was rolling in on him! The patch of sand where he stood was getting smaller, fast. Every moment the channel was getting wider and deeper. Within a few minutes, his patch of sand would be completely covered with water. He had to do something fast!
The question was, What could he do? If he couldn’t find his way when the channel was shallow, how could he find it now when already it had become twice as deep and was spreading out over the sand in every direction?
His answer was that he had a Guide. Art had accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior. Now that he knew he was in danger, he quickly prayed for help and then he plunged into the channel.
He didn’t worry about his pants now. The water was soon above his knees ... his waist ... higher and higher ... still his feet took him down the slope into deeper water. For a moment he wondered if he had made a mistake. Should he have turned back crossing the same channels again? Looking back, he saw that it would have been impossible. Everything behind him was now covered with water. He could only go forward. He could still see some areas of sand between the channels ahead.
The water kept getting deeper and deeper. “Will I make it?” he wondered.
But then the bottom began to rise again. He was past the halfway point. At last he made it to the next patch of sand.
There were other channels to cross, each one difficult as the tide continued to flow in. Afterward he couldn’t remember clearly how he got across. At last he crawled onto the island to which he had set out so confidently less than an hour before.
He was helped by a man on the island who had been watching him but could do nothing to help him until he reached the island. This man found someone who took Art back to North Uist Island in a boat. How thankful Art was to be safely home.
Did you know that each of us is on an adventure? That adventure is our life. Long ago, as a shepherd boy, a man who became a great king, named David, had time to think about his life as he watched over his sheep. He wrote Psalm 23. David knew that the Lord was his Shepherd, just as he was the shepherd of his sheep. David did everything possible to keep his sheep happy and safe. He even rescued one of his sheep from a lion, and one from a bear, with his bare hands! As he had those adventures, he found that the Lord helped him through all of his dangers and took care of him on every normal day, too, and he learned to trust Him. He wrote, “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:11<<A Psalm of David.>> The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1)). Just as Art found that the Lord helped him as he crossed that dangerous strip of sand and just as the Lord helped David the shepherd boy, so the Lord will help you, no matter what you face in your life, if you know Him as your Savior. If He is your Savior, then He is also your good Shepherd, taking care of you every moment of every day. Is the Lord your Savior and Shepherd? He can be! And He wants to be. If you aren’t saved, just pray to Him. Acts 2:22And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. (Acts 2:2)1 Says, “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Then you will begin the happy adventure of living life in the care of the
Good Shepherd.
Memory Verse: “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:1,1<<A Psalm of David.>> The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1)6
Messages of God’s Love 10/29/2023