Daddy was feeling his age as he and eleven-year-old Peggy labored up the final half mile of the difficult trail on Ampersand mountain. Fred and Lyn, who had gone on ahead, were already enjoying the view at the top. They were sure they could see Mother in a boat far below on Lower Saranac Lake and were waiting breathlessly to tell Daddy about the various things they recognized on the lake.
Finally, with a weary sigh, Daddy appeared on the barren rocks at the top. How good it felt to lie down on the rocks and enjoy the breeze that swept over the peak! It was a superb afternoon. Long Lake, some 14 miles to the southwest, was clearly visible. It seemed as if the climbers had reached the top of the world!
Fred and Lyn decided to begin the walk back down.
Daddy reminded everyone how important it was to stay together, especially on the trip down the mountain. He looked at his watch and told Peggy to hurry with putting on her socks and sneakers that had been drying on a rock so they could start down. Naturally, it would not take as long to cover the three-mile trail to the parking lot on Tupper Lake Road as it had to climb up when Daddy had to rest every so often. But darkness came quickly on the slopes of the almost mile-high mountain, and Daddy felt they should start back as soon as possible.
Finally Peggy was ready, and she and Daddy hurried down the trail to catch up to Fred and Lyn, who already had scampered on ahead and were out of sight. As the trail wound its way down the mountain, they suddenly came to a place where the path seemed to branch. Daddy looked for the bright-red trail markers which show the right way, but could not find any. He called to the others, but there was no answer. Apparently, they were already out of earshot. After studying both paths, Daddy and Peggy chose the left fork and started downward again.
Each of us faces decisions every day of our lives, but not one of them is as important as the decision we must make concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. Have you made that decision yet? Don’t put it off. Actually, it is a matter of life and death! If you stay on the same course you are on, it will lead to death and everlasting punishment in hell. But God is offering you a choice. He has a Way that leads to everlasting life. That Way is the Lord Jesus Christ. If you confess that you are a sinner and cannot help yourself, and believe that the Lord Jesus died for your sins, then God says you are saved. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31). Make that decision now, and accept Him as your Saviour.
Down they went, still hurrying to catch up with the others. Suddenly the trail seemed to vanish. Daddy looked around for trail markers or something familiar to reassure him, but even the path they had just come on seemed to have disappeared. “Peggy,” said Daddy, “I think we took the wrong turn back there.” Daddy again shouted as loudly as he could for the others, but the only answer was the echo of his own voice... and the bark of a far-off coyote.
Again Daddy shouted, “We’re lost!” But no human voice answered. Daddy thought about that solemn verse found in both Proverbs 14:1212There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12) and 16:25, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death.” When he and Peggy had started out on the wrong path, it seemed the right way to them, but now they were lost in the wild forest of the Adirondack Mountains. There was no question of turning back; Daddy could not even find the path they had come on, and besides, it was getting gloomy as the late afternoon sun was fast sinking behind the mountains.
Daddy and Peggy were lost and they knew it. It is frightening to be lost, but it is worse to be lost and not know it. If you don’t know that you are lost then you aren’t looking for someone to help you find the right way. You just continue on... until it is too late!
There might be some reading this story who are “lost" in their sins and do not know it. Even though they do not think they are lost, God says they are. The Bible plainly states that “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23). Each of us as sinners is lost and God cannot accept us into heaven with our sins. Everything that we try will “come short.” Yet God in His love has provided a Saviour, the Lord Jesus who, when He saw our great need, willingly went to the cross and “sold all that He had” (Matt. 13:4646Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. (Matthew 13:46)) so that we could be saved.
There on the cross He was punished for my sins. The blood which came from His side has washed all my sins away. Now because of what the Lord Jesus has done for me, I can stand in the presence of God. All my sins are gone.
Are your sins gone? They can be if you will accept the Lord Jesus as your Saviour. Do not wait any longer; there is not much time left! The Lord Jesus is coming very soon to take to heaven all who have been saved. Those who will be left behind will be “lost” forever. The last opportunity to be saved will have passed.
Next week we will find out what happened to Daddy and Peggy. But don’t wait until next week to be saved. By then your opportunity to be saved might be gone, and for you it would be too late.
ML-11/20/1983