Jim, The Crossing Guard

From: Messages of God's Love: 1975

EVERYBODY in Westdale seemed to know Old Jim. He was the school crossing guard. He had been a soldier, but now he was too old for the army. To the children, old Jim was very important, because he always got them across the street safely. What was more, he always knew the time.

When Jim walked to the middle of the road and raised his hands and stopped the traffic and blew his whistle, they knew it was safe to cross. And as they walked past him, they would inquire:

"How many, Jim?" — meaning, How many minutes before the school bell rings?

Sometimes the answer was "Four!" — sometimes, "Three!" sometimes "Two!" When there was but one minute to go, he would shout: "One minute to go — run for your lives!" And run they would.

All through life we shall find that we are the losers when we are late. If late for school, we break a rule; if late for dinner, we may have to go hungry; if late for the bus, we are left behind. And so it goes as everyone knows.

But there is One who is never late; the Eternal God is always on time. "In the fulness of time God sent forth His Son" (Gal. 4:4⁴But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, (Galatians 4:4)). "In due time Christ died for the ungodly" (Rom. 5:6⁶For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)). In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye He will come again for His own (1 Cor. 15:52⁵²In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:52)). And God has appointed a day in which He will judge this world for its wickedness (Acts 17:31³¹Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:31)).

Old Jim knew the time because he believed his watch. We know God's time to be saved, because we believe the Bible.

"Behold", He says, "now is the accepted time, behold, now is the day of salvation." (2 Cor. 6:2²(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)).

When the bell was about to ring, Old Jim warned the children to "Run for your lives!" And long ago a man named Lot was told to do the same thing. But then it was God who said: "Escape for thy life." (Gen. 19:17¹⁷And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. (Genesis 19:17)).

That was a life-or-death warning, for shortly afterwards brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven rained down upon the city where Lot lived till everything and everybody was destroyed. Why? Because of its wickedness. Oh that everyone would obey God's warning today and "flee from the wrath to come"; for He will come "in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus

Christ." (2 Thess. 1:8⁸In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: (2 Thessalonians 1:8)). If you repent and believe the gospel you will be able to sing:

Should sevenfold storms of thunder roll, And shake this globe from pole to pole, No thunderbolt shall daunt my face, For Jesus is my Hiding Place.

Messages of the Love of God 6/1/1975

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