Jon, the handyman, was given the job of cleaning out Mr. Vodnik’s garage. It was filled with all kinds of things. Some things Mr. Vodnik wanted to keep, some he gave to Jon, and some were to be thrown away.
Jon took out those things that needed to be thrown away. Then he built shelves for the remaining articles so they could be kept in order and easily reached. When the job was finished, there was quite a pile of things that needed to be hauled to the city dump. But Jon would need help, so he called Ben to help him.
Together Jon and Ben drove to the dump, paid the entrance fee, and drove on around the little hill to the dumping area. Time was short, so they had to hurry. “Throw this out . . . keep this . . . this is still good.” Paint, boots, light bulbs and other usable things were put in a pile. They finally finished sorting and dumping and then drove back around the hill to leave. But when they got to the dump office, no one was there to let them out. The heavy steel gate crossing the road was closed, chained and locked. They were locked in the dump!
What an uncomfortable feeling that was!
Soon they flagged down a lady who was driving slowly by. They asked her to call the sheriff to help them get out. It was beginning to get dark, and they could be in trouble if they were still in there after dark.
Do you think Jon and Ben were thinking of all the useful things they had sorted out from the trash? No, they wanted out! What a picture of boys and girls and grown-ups too who are spending precious time with the things of this world that seem attractive. Is this a picture of you? Where will you be when time runs out and the gate to heaven is closed and locked?
“Look, Jon, here comes the sheriff.”
Thinking perhaps they were robbers, the sheriff asked, “Do you have a dump fee receipt?”
“Yes, here it is. The dump keeper forgot us, locked the gate and went home.”
The sheriff tried to call the dump keeper, but all he got was the answering machine. The sheriff couldn’t help them. He said, “You will have to leave your truck here and come back for it tomorrow.”
Just like the dump keeper who forgot the two men and went home, your worldly friends may forget you, too, and go on their way, interested only in themselves. They may not care if you spend the rest of your time here on earth locked up with the trash of this world. But we want to warn you that very soon the open gate to heaven will be closing forever! The Bible says, “And while they went to buy, the [Lord Jesus] came; and they that were ready went in with Him . . . and the door was shut. Afterward came also the [others] . . . saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But He answered and said . . . I know you not” (Matthew 25:10-12).
How did Jon and Ben get out? They climbed up and over the top of the gate, and left the truck and all their “treasures” behind. They were thankful to finally get home to their families and supper. So it will be for you, too, if you belong to the Lord Jesus. All who have trusted in Him to wash away their sins will soon be with Him, leaving everything in this world behind.
If you are still locked in your sins in “this present evil world,” be real about your need, and run for the open gate of grace before you are locked out of heaven forever! Come to the Lord Jesus Christ who loves you and died for you, and be saved from the coming judgment soon to fall on this world. Then you, too, can say, “Our Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins that He might deliver us from this present evil world” (Galatians 1:3-4).
“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3).
MEMORY VERSE: “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” Hebrews 2:3.