When I was younger, I used to camp with a group of boys. One time we were camping near a small lake that had formed under a waterfall of clear water. In our exploring, we discovered that the ground that formed the waterfall, the lake and the camping area was made of volcanic lava, formed many years before.
We built a fireplace to cook our dinner, using big round rocks we found under the water. Our dinner was still cooking when we heard the first explosion. One after another, the rocks around the fire suddenly began to blow up like bombs, throwing pieces of rock and fire in all directions! We boys ran as fast as we could, looking for shelter from the exploding rocks.
When the rocks finally stopped exploding, we figured out what was making them explode. Those rocks around the fire were actually big balls of hardened lava that had air or gases trapped inside. When they became hot from the fire, the air or gas that was trapped inside expanded and blew apart the rocks. Thankfully, no one got hurt.
Those rocks make me think of sinners. A sinner keeps sin trapped inside sometimes for many years, and this is what will destroy him. These unforgiven sins make him sad and without hope. But God wants to change this. He loves the sinner and offers to remove his sins and give him eternal life. And God’s offer is for whosoever will believe in the Lord Jesus as Saviour. “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son [Jesus], that whosoever [believes] in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)). On the cross Jesus took upon Himself God’s fire of judgment for sin. Now everyone who trusts in Him is free from the fire of eternal punishment.
Even after the rocks stopped exploding, no one wanted to be the first to go near the fire, because we didn’t know if any more rocks would explode. You also don’t know when you will have to meet God, so it is urgent to believe in the Lord Jesus as your Saviour right now and be free from your sins. “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth” (Proverbs 27:11Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. (Proverbs 27:1)).
ML-09/29/2002