Messages of God's Love: 1984

Tim and Terry were having fun. They had found a box of matches and were playing with them in their bedroom where Mother would not see them. Striking matches and lighting pieces of paper and then blowing out the flames fascinated Tim and Terry. Tim was just nine years old and Terry was seven, but they were both old enough to know that what they were doing was not only wrong, but very dangerous.

At first they had a good time, but suddenly something went wrong. One of the pieces of paper blazed up more quickly than they expected and they found they could not put out the flames.

Tim and Terry should have called for help, but they didn’t. They got frightened when they found they could not put out the fire. In their panic they simply closed the bedroom door and hurried downstairs and out into the yard. They forgot that their three-year-old sister Lisa was sleeping in her bedroom upstairs.

Boys and girls, you know you are sinners. Your own conscience tells you that you have done things that are wrong. The Bible tells us that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. You may have tried to get rid of your sins by being good or by going to Sunday school or by reading your Bible. But none of those things will save you. Tim and Terry tried to put out the fire by themselves, but they could not. You will never be able to get rid of your sins by yourself either. The Bible tells us that only “the blood of Jesus Christ His [God’s] Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.

Not knowing anything about the fire, Mother got in her car and left for just ten minutes to pick up her older daughter from high school. While she was gone the fire began to spread, and someone seeing smoke coming from the upstairs window called the fire department. When Mother arrived home firemen with hoses and ladders were fighting to put out the fire. Falling on her knees in the yard between her two sons, Mother prayed that they would be able to get little Lisa out safely.

One of the brave firemen risked his life to rescue Lisa. Facing the smoke and flames, he went in and brought Lisa out alive.

Only the brave firemen with their special equipment and protective clothing could rescue Lisa, and only the Lord Jesus, God’s Son, can save you from your sins. He not only risked His life, He gave His life that you might have your sins forgiven. Won’t you thank Him today for dying on the cross for your sins? He loves you and wants to forgive you.

Little Lisa had been in the burning house too long. In spite of the brave fireman who risked his life to save her, and in spite of all that the doctors and nurses in the hospital did for her, she died the next day.

The Lord Jesus promises us, however, that when He saves us from our sins He never lets us go. He preserves and keeps us forever. Although our story has a sad ending your life can have a happy ending. If you will accept the Lord Jesus as your own Saviour, you are promised everlasting life with Him in heaven. “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish.” John 10:28.

ML-01/01/1984

Faithful Stief

In World War I an army officer had a faithful dog whom he called Stief. The officer was wounded during one of the battles. At the time, Stief was tied up behind the lines. Sensing his master’s danger, Stief chewed through his leash, dashed through deadly fire to his master’s side, got a firm grip on his clothing, and pulled him to safety. As he tugged and pulled, bullets wounded him in the shoulder and leg. Both he and his master lived. What a brave and faithful friend Stief was!

Boys and girls also are wounded —by sin and by Satan’s arrows on the battlefield of life. We would all have died in our sins had it not been for the faithful love of One who knew our danger and came to rescue us. The Lord Jesus, the Son of God, laid aside His glory and came down into this world to save sinners. He took our place on the cross and died in our stead.

“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” Romans 5:6. He is the wonderful Saviour of all who put their trust in Him.

What would you think if Stief’s master had said to his dog, “Go away—I don’t want you. Leave me alone. I’m all right.” You can’t imagine him saying that, can you? Yet that is just what many boys and girls, and older folks, too, are saying to the Lord Jesus who came to save them. They would rather go on in their sins and not think about the awful danger ahead, than have Jesus save them. Is that what you are thinking? It is a serious thing to live without Christ, but far worse to die without Him and to be lost forever in the lake of fire (hell).

Just as Stief dragged his master to a place of safety, the Lord Jesus puts all those who trust in Him in a place of safety, too. Even now they are under the shelter of His precious blood. The punishment of God against sin can never touch them there. And before that judgment falls on this Christ-hating world, the Lord Jesus is coming to take His own children home to heaven.

“Rescue my soul from their destructions.” Psalms 35:17.

“Whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.” Proverbs 29:25.

ML-01/01/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: Unpredictable Lemmings of the North

“In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.” Job 12:10.

In the cold, snowy areas of both Canada and Norway live furry little animals called lemmings. They are only about six inches long, including their tail and are dark brown in color with yellow-white stomachs. Lemmings’ sudden appearance in great numbers and equally swift disappearance have puzzled scientists for years.

Living in such cold climates, the Creator has wisely supplied them with warm coats and furry boots with padded soles. Underneath deep winter snows they live active lives, eating grass, other vegetation and lichens.

Early in June they come to the surface of the snow, often so many that they look like moving blankets. During spring and summer two or three litters of little ones are raised, greatly increasing their numbers. When all available food is devoured, they become restless and begin great migrations, always (in Norway) going west. At times they are so abundant that they spread out a mile or more wide, all moving west as they eat. They are good swimmers, crossing lakes and rivers en route.

Hungry animals and birds, such as foxes, weasels, owls, hawks, etc. feed on them. They are in such great numbers that those caught are hardly missed. However, when being chased, some lemmings panic and on reaching the ocean, plunge in, swimming on westward and eventually drowning. Some remain behind, raise new families, and in a few years appear again in great numbers.

In Canada the lemmings live north of the Arctic circle on the mainland and on polar islands where there is vegetation underneath the snow and ice. Although brown in summer, their coats change to pure white in winter. Eskimos use their fur to make warm clothes. Their little girls enjoy making doll clothes out of the fur, too.

It seems sad that such pretty little animals should become the food of birds of prey and cruel animals, or drown in ocean waters. It was not like this in the day of their creation before sin entered the world. Happily, God has promised a future time when this will be corrected. The Bible says “the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption” even though “the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” Romans 8:21,22. When that takes place their peaceful way of life will prove the declaration, “Let everything that bath breath praise the Lord.” Psalms 150:6.

That time will come after God’s judgment takes place on this sinful world. He will then restore all things in the beauty of His first creation. Those who know the Saviour will be taken to heaven before that judgment takes place and will look down with delight on the new creation when it is brought forth. Will you be among them?

ML-01/01/1984

The Boat Ride

Memory Verse: “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9

Fred and his sister Lee liked adventures. It seemed as if they were always going off by themselves to have fun. Sometimes their fun was a little dangerous. Fred and Lee planned one of these adventures while they were on vacation with their parents at their cabin in the mountains.

The cabin was right beside a large lake that had many islands and only a few other cabins. The family had two small motor boats. Fred and Lee, although young, were allowed to drive around the lake in one of the boats. This boat was aluminum with a wide, flat bottom, so it would not tip over easily.

One particular night Fred and Lee decided to go out for a boat ride after dark. They turned on the red and green lights in the front of the boat, pulled the starter cord, and sped happily away from the dock. On the open lake they turned the throttle up to full speed. With the boat bouncing over the waves and the wind whipping through their hair, it almost felt like they were flying!

There are people today who, like Fred and Lee, are rushing through this world, having lots of fun and not giving any thought to what might be ahead. The Bible describes these people as “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” 2 Timothy 3:4. Are you one of these people? You may be even if you don’t think you are. The Bible also says, “the god of this world [Satan] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” 2 Corinthians 4:4. If you have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you are included with those who are “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” Satan has blinded your mind so that you are not aware of your condition before God.

This is a matter that you should settle right away. You may think that everything is going along pretty well in your life... but there is danger ahead! If you should die without accepting the Lord Jesus as your own Saviour, you will spend eternity in hell with the devil and his angels. But God loves you and does not want this to happen. He wants to have you in heaven with Himself. So He has provided a way of escape—the only way of escape. In His great love He gave His only Son, the Lord Jesus, to be punished on the cross so that we sinners could be saved. If you see yourself as a sinner with no hope of escape, God has the answer for you. Turn to the Lord Jesus, believe that He died on the cross for your sins, and He will give you everlasting life. Why not accept Him as your Saviour right now and have it settled?

For a while Fred and Lee drove happily around the lake. They were careful to avoid the lighted buoys which marked where the rocks were, although Fred enjoyed getting as close as he could without hitting the rocks, As they rounded the last island before returning to the cabin, the motor sputtered... then stalled.

“We’re out of gas!” Fred shouted.

Lee shined the flashlight on the gas tank and checked the gauge. “No, we’re not," she answered.

So Fred stood up and began yanking the starter cord again, but the motor only sputtered a few times and would not start.

The wind was blowing harder now, and Lee seized the oars to keep the boat from hitting the rocks near the island. Across the blackness of the lake they could see a path of light from the Coleman lantern on their dock. But both Fred and Lee doubted that they could row that far in the strong wind. Each time they pushed the boat out away from the rocks, the waves carried them right back in again. Frightened and discouraged, Fred and Lee shouted over and over for help and even blew the boat horn, but no one came.

Finally, worn out from rowing and shouting, they decided to try the motor one more time. Once more Lee pushed frantically with the oars, moving them out a little from the rocks, and Fred lowered the motor into the water. Opening the gas flow all the way, he pulled the starter cord with all his might. The motor roared to life! Fred swung the boat around and headed for the light on the dock.

Ten minutes later Fred and Lee, tired but relieved, were climbing out of the boat safely onto their dock.

Fred and Lee were able to help themselves, but you cannot do anything to save yourself. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy. He saved us.” Titus 3:5. Anything you try to do will not help. There is only one way that you can escape the punishment for your sins—accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour.

“Unto you therefore which believe He is precious.” 1 Peter 2:7.

ML-01/08/1984

Some Mocked

All of us were shocked to learn of the collapse of the bridge on the Connecticut Turnpike, Interstate 95, over the Mianus River. As a bus driver I had driven over that bridge many times in the last few years. Most of the time the bus carried 45 to 49 passengers, and I never once questioned the safety of the bridge.

It will take many months of study to find out exactly what caused the bridge to collapse. But one thing is clear—there were many warning signs before it collapsed, and it seems that some of them, at least, were ignored. How solemn to think of the possibility that, if the warnings had been taken seriously, perhaps the bridge could have been repaired in time to avoid the terrible disaster and loss of life.

Boys and girls, all around us there are warnings that this world is headed for punishment by a holy God. And what is so sad is that men and women, boys and girls do not take the warnings seriously. Some mock and some simply ignore what God says in His precious Word, the Bible, about the coming judgment.

I heard recently something very sad about the Mianus River disaster. Right after the bridge collapsed, one driver who was able to stop his car, parked it at an angle across the roadway to try to block others from going over the edge of the road into the river. Soon another car came up fast to the scene. The man tried to flag it down to warn the driver about the bridge. But the car simply swerved around him and his car. As it passed, the driver cursed at the man and then plunged suddenly over the edge to an almost instant death!

Maybe we gasp at such a terrible thing. Oh, boys and girls, how sad to think that there are many people rushing on to the awfulness of an eternity in hell without Christ! When someone—a parent, a Sunday school teacher, a friend—tries to warn them of what is ahead, they won’t listen. They mock or curse the person who faithfully brings the warning and then hurry on their reckless way, seeming not to care about the awful end ahead of them.

God has not left you without warning. Before it is forever too late, listen to God’s voice to you, and receive the Saviour He has provided. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2.

ML-01/08/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: Our Remarkable Kidneys

“But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him.” 1 Corinthians 12:18.

Most of us have two kidneys. They are reddish-brown and are shaped like huge kidney beans. Kidneys are the most important waste-disposal part of the body. Through them our blood is continuously filtered to remove wastes and to help keep the chemical content of the blood in balance.

The Creator wisely gave us two of these important organs so that if one is severely damaged the other can carry on. Surely “His ways [are] past finding out.” Romans 11:33. Life could go on even if the one remaining kidney were also partially damaged, especially if the person’s diet were carefully watched. But the normal, healthy kidneys are wonderful safeguards to our health, helping, among other things, to control our weight and blood pressure. Also, if we unwisely take in too much salt or sugar, the kidneys will get rid of the excess. However, there is a limit to this, and a wise person will avoid eating too much of these items.

The function of the kidneys is very complicated. Each kidney acts separately, extracting waste products from the blood. The major blood vessel that leads to the kidney is the renal artery. It comes from the liver, and the blood that travels in it contains urea. This substance is derived from proteins in our food. Digestion breaks down the protein substances in food, and that which is not utilized by the body is carried by the blood stream to the liver where it is changed into urea.

Now that the urea has reached the kidneys a remarkable extraction process takes place in a coiled tube called a nephron. Each of us has about a million nephrons which if stretched end to end in a line would be about 70 miles long.

As the blood enters the kidney it goes into small blood vessels called capillaries where it is filtered. A portion of the plasma (fluid part of the blood) enters the nephrons. The nephrons are able to separate out the good things (salts, sugars, amino acids, water) and return them to the blood. This process goes on continuously, and the nephrons are kept active returning the good substances back into the blood and rejecting the waste substances. This waste material is called urine. This passes out of the nephrons into collecting tubes called ureters and then to the bladder and is discharged from time to time.

This complicated but amazingly efficient system could never have happened by chance, nor could the most brilliant scientist begin to duplicate it. God alone could create and take care of this and every other part of our body as well. How wondrous His ways are! When we think of the wisdom that designed such an intricate body we should want to exclaim like the Psalmist did, “I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” Psalms 139:14.

ML-01/08/1984

The Dead Radio

Memory Verse: “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13

Tom needed a job, but jobs were hard to find in Alaska. After several weeks of finding nothing, Tom finally found a skipper of a salmon fishing boat who needed help. Tom volunteered to go on this, his first fishing trip.

They were to leave Bristol Bay at 11 p.m. They had made arrangements for their small 32-foot boat to follow a big tender (a supply ship). But the tender did not really want them to follow. “Your little boat can’t possibly keep up with us,” said the other skipper. “And don’t expect us to come help you if you get into trouble!”

In spite of this discouragement Tom and his skipper set out at the appointed time, following the tender, and sailed out of the quiet bay onto the open sea.

Everything went well until they came near Cook Inlet. Then they felt the power of the ocean as 20-foot waves tossed their little boat around. Tom’s stomach did not feel as good as it had a few hours before.

In the middle of Cook Inlet with the tide going out, a strong wind picked up. Fighting to stay upright, the two-man crew of the little, salmon fishing boat heard their engine suddenly sputter.

“Go back to the engine and see what’s wrong,” shouted the skipper above the roar of the sea. Tom struggled to the rear of the boat. Partway back a huge wave swept over the side of the boat and knocked Tom down. He staggered back to the wheel-house and opened the door just when another giant wave crashed over the boat, flooding the wheel-house. The two men tried the radio, but it was dead. There was no way to make contact with the big ship, now steaming off in the distance. “At least the motor is still going,” was their only comforting thought.

And then, in spite of the noise of the wind and waves, came an awful silence—no engine! An extra battery in the boat was hooked up to the radio. They tried again and again to contact the tender, but received no reply. Realizing their danger, the two fishermen put on their survival suits and waited.

What a frightening experience—a small boat adrift on a raging sea with no motor and no radio. And yet there are many thousands of people who are drifting on the raging sea of life with no sense of direction and no contact with the Lord Jesus Christ, the Creator of the universe. If you do not know Jesus as your Saviour, you, too, are one of those who are drifting. The Lord Jesus calls to you, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28. Won’t you come?

We find our two fishermen with their hopes fading, waiting in their little boat, tossed back and forth by the mighty waves. Suddenly—can it be? Yes, the tender is coming back! Somehow they must have heard their call for help after all.

They watched as the big ship circled around them several times and then threw them a line. In the heavy seas Tom and his skipper realized that they would have to lighten their boat to enable the tender to tow them. They decided to throw the important items onto the tender. As they threw the first things over Tom saw danger. The tender was down in the valley of the tremendous waves, and their little boat was high on the crest above it. Suddenly their boat slid down the side of the wave and crashed into the tender! Tom, seeing the crash coming, leaped off onto the tender, but his skipper was knocked down with the force of the impact.

How Satan would try to stop you from coming to the Saviour. He may try violence, or he may try tempting you with the many attractions in this world. Oh, come to Jesus right now, while His loving arms are outstretched waiting for you to come.

The skipper, left alone on the little fishing boat, tied the line that had been thrown to him. Then the tender began towing him through the rough seas toward the safety of the nearest harbor. But the sea in all its power was too much, and the lifeline snapped. Back again came the tender, circling around, throng another line. Tied up again, they all made it to Kodiak Island where another fishing boat towed them to a quiet place where the two fishermen could repair their boat.

In talking with the skipper of the tender, Tom discovered that their calls for help had been heard, but for some reason they had not been able to hear the tender’s reply.

If as a lost sinner you feel your need of a Saviour, call to the Lord Jesus. He will always hear your cry. And He loves you and wants to save you.

“Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” Psalms 50:15.

“The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him.” Psalms 145:18.

ML-01/15/1984

Poetry

How many of you boys and girls like poetry? Do you know that much of our Bible is in the form of poetry? Job, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon and parts of the prophetic books are poetry. Poems are meant to be heard, not just read silently.

On the next page is a poem with a great story—a true story. You may enjoy it even better if you, or one of your parents, read it out loud.

ML-01/15/1984

A True Story

All alone in the evening gray,

Sick and dying, poor Hannah lay;

Through the broken pane the cold wind swept,

Poor Hannah shivered, and moaned, and wept.

But it was not cold, and it was not pain,

That made her shiver and moan again:

She did not say, “My pain is sore,”

But “Where shall I be when all is o’er?”

For Hannah remembered the years gone by,

And she said, “A sinner—a sinner am I!

All black and fearful the sins appear,

That I had forgotten for many a year;

And thousands, thousands, they come to mind—

There is hell before and sin behind.

The Lord is holy, and just, and true,

And what He has said He will surely do.

He hath for sin an awful doom,

A lake of fire beyond the tomb;

And my soul is black with the sins of years,

They cannot be washed away with tears.

And sure it is vain to pray and cry;

He cannot hear such a sinner as I.

I am going—going—to stand alone,

Before the Lord on His awful throne!”

~~~

Bright and glad as the stars came out,

With many a laugh and many a shout,

Jack and Will in the garden played,

And they heeded not the noise they made.

But the neighbor calling said, “Children, dear,

A woman is sick in that house so near;

There, where the broken pane you see,

She is lying as ill as she can be.

She soon must die, and you see ’tis best

You should be still, and let her rest.”

Then in a moment they were still,

For tender hearts had both Jack and Will,

And they sat and looked at the casement lone,

Till the stars shone bright, and the day was gone.

Then Jack said, “Will, she will go to heaven,

If she has had her sins forgiven.

I learned at school that when Jesus died

The door of heaven was opened wide,

Because He was punished Himself for sin.

So now if we die, we can all go in;

Of our sins there will not a word be said,

For Jesus Christ was punished instead;

And if she believes He loves her so,

Beyond the stars her soul will go.

He will lead her in through the golden door,

And she will be happy for evermore.”

Then Will said, “Jack, that is all quite true—

But does she know it as well as you?

What Jesus did we have both been taught,

But some know this, and some do not.

O Jack, maybe she has never known

What it is that the Lord has done!”

Then Jack said, “If you would help me,

Will, I would climb up to the window sill,

And through the hole I would call and say,

‘Jesus washes our sins away.’ "

~~~

The neighbor said when her work was done,

“It may be Hannah is all alone,

And oh! it’s an awful thing to lie

Too ill to live, and afraid to die.

So just to sit with her I will go,

But how to help her I do not know.”

So the neighbor went, and she heard no moan,

And she thought, “Poor Hannah is dead and gone;”

She lighted the candle with fear and dread,

And stooped to see if Hannah was dead.

But there she lay with her face so bright!

It shone with glory and not with light.

And she said, “O neighbor, the Lord is good!

He has washed me white in His precious blood,

My sins are gone from before His face,

And He has prepared a glorious place,

Where those He loves with Himself shall be,

And to that sweet home He is calling me.

O neighbor, here in the dark I lay,

I felt so guilty I could not pray,

And all my sins like a mountain stood

Before the terrible face of God.

Then all in a moment, sweet and clear,

A voice spake loud, though none was near,

Like an angel speaking I heard it say,

‘Jesus washes our sins away!’

And whilst I thought, Do my ears tell true?

It said, ‘Poor woman, He died for you.’

And then did the words come sweet and low

That I had forgotten long ago;

I once heard tell in years gone by,

How Jesus came on the cross to die,

And there He hung in the darkness dread,

With a crown of thorns on His holy head.

And some old, old words came back to me,

‘He bore our sins on the cursed tree.’

Yes, it was true that mine He bore,

So the guilt is gone, and the judgment o’er;

And more than that, if He died for me,

What must the love of Jesus be!

He in His home of glory waits

To see me enter the golden gates;

Whilst I lay moaning in black despair,

His heart was longing to have me there.

And oh for the welcome I soon shall know!

No words can tell how I long to go!”

~~~

And so, ere many a day was done,

There was joy in the home beyond the sun,

For Hannah had entered the golden door

To dwell with her Saviour for evermore.

God saith that all who to Jesus come

He in His love will welcome home.

The Lord is holy, and just, and true,

And what He hath said, He will surely do.

ML-01/15/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Sly Fox

“Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.” Song of Solomon 2:15.

It would be unusual for anyone to really like a wolf or a coyote, but most everyone likes a fox. Whether it is seen in a zoo or in the wild, a fox looks like an animal that would be nice to pet. But don’t try it, because, like a wolf or a coyote, a fox has sharp teeth and claws.

The average-sized fox is about 30-inches long with a 15-inch bushy tail. It has a pointed muzzle, erect ears and alert, yellow eyes that give it an intelligent appearance, and certainly the fox is a very clever animal. To speak of a person as being “sharp as a fox” is a compliment.

Foxes are found throughout Canada and the United States—particularly in the western parts. There are many varieties, including the red, gray, silver gray, blue and black. The most common is the red fox, named for its thick, velvety coat, which is a beautiful shade of red offset by white on its throat, lower jaw and the tip of its tail.

Foxes live in caves, hollow logs or dens, but most frequently in burrows six to eight feet long and as much as four feet deep with two or three entrances. All but one of these entrances are used only to escape in an emergency. The true entrance will most likely be among tree roots or under large stones. This reminds us of when David was fearful of his enemies and he prayed to the Lord, “Be Thou my strong rock, for a house of defense to save me.” Psalms 31:2. Satan is an enemy to each of us, and David’s prayer can be ours, too. The Lord invites us to turn to Him to be saved, promising, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee.” Psalms 50:15.

In the springtime three or four pups are usually born to the female (vixen) in the burrow or den. When they are about a month old she takes them on trips outside to play and practice hunting. The frisky little ones make the most of this, chasing each other, tossing sticks in the air and playfully wrestling. But the mother sees to it that they learn to hunt as well and to be alert for enemies. Dogs are the enemy that they fear most. When being chased by a pack of dogs, foxes use many sly tricks to throw them off the trail. Usually they can outrun the dogs and in a chase will find time to rest or even get a quick meal for renewed strength.

Foxes are most active at dusk. Farmers get angry when one steals a chicken from the farmyard. However, most agree that foxes do more good than harm, because they eat mice, rats and other rodents that damage crops. They easily climb into a bush or up a leaning tree to take birds and eggs from nests and eat fruit fallen from trees.

As our opening verse indicates they also eat grapes, sometimes spoiling the vines in doing so. The “little foxes” here tell us that many things that look innocent can actually be harmful in our lives. To avoid these the Bible gives the instruction— “Enter not into the path of the wicked.... Avoid it, pass not by it.” Proverbs 4:14,15. This is good advice for everyone.

ML-01/15/1984

Hale's Cave

Memory Verse: “Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 25:30

Tom, Dick and Jack were pals, as well as cousins. It was a real treat for Dick and Jack, who were city boys, to spend their summers at Tom’s house in the country outside Albany, New York. They had many adventures together as they grew up. Tom was older than either of the other boys, and it was he who knew about secret spots in the woods where they could play together for hours. He knew where the fishing was good, where there were old Indian trails, and where there were neat caves that boys their age could safely explore. Tom was a great storyteller, so when it rained and they had to stay indoors, the boys would go up to the attic and Tom would tell them about his adventures and the mysteries he had discovered exploring Hale’s Cave in Thatcher Park in the Helderberg mountains.

At last, Tom’s mother felt the boys were old enough to explore the cave on their own. They packed a lunch, a flashlight and some matches. Then Uncle Henry drove them out to the Helderbergs. The boys were excited about exploring the cave, although Jack, who was the youngest, almost changed his mind when they peered into the darkness and suddenly a bat swooped out of a cave, scaring them all a little.

It was fun, though, exploring the cave. After they had gone in quite a distance, Tom suddenly turned off the flashlight, and the three boys now were in the blackest darkness they had ever experienced. Tom pretended he could not get the flashlight to turn on again, and Dick and Jack were really frightened. Jack was glad the others could not see him, as there were tears in his eyes. What if they had to try to find their way out in the dark? Would they have to wait for Uncle Henry to miss them and come in with a rescue party?

All three boys thought about how awful it would be to be cast by God into what the Bible calls “outer darkness,” to be in the “blackness of darkness forever.” Jude 13. The awfulness of being shut out from the presence of God in darkness for all eternity suddenly became very real to them. How glad they were that God in love had sent His only begotten Son to be punished for their sins during those three hours of darkness on the cross of Calvary so that they might never have to know the “outer darkness” of hell!

Simply confessing to God that we are sinners deserving to be shut out from God’s presence, and receiving the Lord Jesus as our Saviour, we pass from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God.

What a relief it was when Tom switched on the flashlight, and the boys were once again able to see their way through the passageways! How good the sunlight looked as they came to the mouth of the cave!

“Ye were sometime darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.” Ephesians 5:8.

“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.” Colossians 1:12.

ML-01/22/1984

The Stolen Fork

Richard was ten years old. He and his brothers loved to go with Dad and Mother to the Automat, a restaurant where almost all the food was displayed in shiny coin-operated dispensers. First they would go to the cashier and exchange dollar bills for nickels, dimes and quarters. Then each one would choose a tasty beef or chicken potpie or a plate of franks and beans, put the right coins in the slot, open the glass window, remove the food, and put it on his tray. Drinks such as milk or chocolate milk came out of a faucet or spigot shaped like a lion’s mouth. When each in the family had their meal, they would find a table and Dad would thank the Lord Jesus for their food. Then the boys would dig in to the feast.

The knives, forks and spoons were plain metal, but, of good quality. Each one was stamped with the words “Horn and Hardart,” who were the people owning all the Automats in New York and Philadelphia.

Imagine how Mother felt one day when she was emptying Richard’s pockets before putting his pants in the wash and out fell a shiny fork with “Horn and Hardart” on it. She felt sorry that Richard had taken the fork, but she did not say anything to him about it until Dad came home and they could talk it over together.

Dad and Mother showed Richard the fork and asked him how he got it. With the evidence right in front of his eyes, how could he deny that he had stolen the fork from the Automat? Richard was ashamed. Almost at once he confessed what he had done. Dad told him it was stealing and needed also to be confessed to God. Richard knelt by the living-room couch and confessed to God the sin of stealing. He expected a spanking from Dad, but this time Dad did something different. He made Richard take the fork back to the manager of the Automat.

“Aw, Dad,” he complained, “can’t I just put it back in the tray with all the other forks? I don’t want the manager to know I stole it.”

“No,” answered Dad. “You must take it to the manager and tell him you took it.”

Richard’s wise father then went with him and stood next to him while he told the manager what he had done. And the equally-wise manager did not make light of what Richard had done. He explained that every year many forks, spoons and knives disappear from Automats, costing the company thousands of dollars. Then, to Richard’s relief, the manager forgave him and thanked him for bringing the fork back.

Richard now is a grandfather, but he never forgot the lesson he learned at the Automat.

Boys and girls, God says “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9. Jesus died on the cross of Calvary to pay the penalty for the sins of all those who would receive Him as their own Saviour.

ML-01/22/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Adaptable Guanaco

“Every beast of the forest is Mine.... the wild beasts of the field are Mine.... for the world is Mine, and the fullness thereof. “Psalms 50:10-12.

The guanaco is another interesting animal that the Creator has designed to live in unusual surroundings. Pronounced “wa-nah-ko,” this charming, yet sometimes unpleasant, wooly animal lives at the lower end of South America. It has adapted to the sea-level plains of Argentina and Patagonia, as well as to the cold, wind-swept islands of Tierra del Fuego and the 13,000-foot, snow-covered peaks of the Andes in Chili and Peru. It lives in family groups which migrate between these winter and summer feeding areas. It is the only large, South American wild animal that feeds on grass and shrubs.

Guanacos often have to survive long periods of dry weather, so God has given them the ability to get all their water from the food they eat. They also have been supplied with padded feet that have two, hard, sharp little hooves, which give them a good grip on rocky ground as well as in sand and snow. Warm, wooly fur insulates their entire body from the cold, and they like to roll in the dust to help keep it fluffed up.

While closely related to the more northern llamas and vicunas, the five-foot, 250-pound guanaco is the largest and most graceful of them all, but it is not used as a pack animal as is the llama.

When adult males fight they move close to each other on stiff legs, then suddenly charge, rising on their hind legs and slamming their chests together. They also bite each other’s necks and spit at one another. Finally, one breaks away, and the winner becomes the acknowledged leader of his company.

Babies are born in December (the beginning of summer south of the equator). They have expressive black eyes, flexible necks and spindly but graceful legs, making these youngsters very appealing. Called chulengos, they are playful and have mock battles, jumping at each other and wrestling with their long necks. They like to tease the patient adults, too. The young have soft and downy, cinnamon-colored coats with white stomachs. Erect ears stand up on small, pointed heads atop long, slender necks. Their faces are mostly soft gray.

Only one day after birth, the chulengo can run swiftly, but the mother nurses it for a year or more before chasing it away. The females join other groups, but bachelor males band together until about five years old and then establish their own families.

Do you think God pays attention to these guanacos, so far away in those cold lands? The Bible answers this question, saying, “For He looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven.” Job 28:24. Every boy and girl should also think of David’s words when speaking to the Lord: “Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding.” Psalms 119:73. When a request for understanding is sincerely made, God will surely give it and will delight also to show the way of salvation through faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Have you ever made this request?

ML-01/22/1984

Ace's Hot Day

Memory Verse: “Let him that is athirst come, And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17

As Liz and her younger sister Patti opened the car doors to go shopping, the family’s big German shepherd, named Ace, came bounding out of the front door. Ace loved to ride in the car, and the girls took him along whenever they could. He was fun to have along and behaved himself pretty well.

It was a hot day, but Liz and Patti knew they would be in the store only a short time. They thought Ace would be okay in the car by himself while they were shopping, so they let him come along.

The three of them drove off. Ace stuck his head out of the window and let the wind blow his pointed ears back, closing his eyes. Liz and Patti laughed, because Ace looked so cute that way.

When they parked the car near the store, they left the windows partway open so Ace would not get too hot. They were careful not to open them too far, because he might get tired of waiting and jump out.

The air-conditioned store felt so good that the two girls stayed longer than they had planned. Suddenly they remembered Ace and quickly paid for their things and hurried out to the car. To their surprise there was no excited dog poking his head out of the window to greet them. Ace was gone! Liz and Patti, who now were worried and upset, looked around the parking lot, but he was not anywhere to be found.

“Let’s drive around and look for him,” suggested Patti.

Liz opened the car door and gasped as she felt the hot, hot air in the car. “Poor Ace!” she exclaimed. “He must have gotten so hot that he just had to squeeze out the window!”

The girls were worried that Ace was lost, but they knew that the Lord Jesus could see exactly where he was. They asked Him for help to find their dog. Liz remembered a verse from the Bible: “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?” Luke 12:6. So if God cared about sparrows, Liz was sure He was taking care of Ace.

They drove around the block. Just as they pulled up to a red traffic light, they saw Ace across the street. He was standing in the middle of a flower bed in front of a bank, looking dazed and bewildered. Liz slammed on the brakes, and both girls jumped out of the car calling, “Ace! Ace!” at the top of their lungs. The other drivers stared at them curiously. Ace meekly allowed Liz and Patti to lead him back to the car. He was hot and panting, and he lay quietly in the back seat all the way home.

When they got home Ace drank several large bowls of water. Liz and Patti thanked the Lord Jesus for taking care of Ace and for His love to them.

“But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.” Luke 12:7.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalms 46:1.

ML-01/29/1984

Daring Stunts

Bluff Island, on Lower Saranac Lake in New York’s Adirondack Park, has a cliff about 80 feet high overlooking the water. There is an easy trail to the top, and the view from there is worth the climb. On a summer weekend there are often many people at the top enjoying the view. Halfway up the cliff there is a ledge and a tree from which a rope hangs. Usually there are a few brave young people who swing out on a rope and then drop into the deep water below. Once in a while someone will even dive from the top of the cliff, but it takes lots of courage to do that. One boy we know stood for over half an hour at the top, trying to get courage enough to dive off. Finally, off he went, and it was over in just a few seconds... safely, I am thankful to say.

Many years ago a local resident who had gone off the top of the cliff many times, agreed to jump off on a horse as a stunt. It was to be recorded on film. He was a little nervous about going off on a horse, but he was to be paid well, and money was scarce then. At last he thought everything was ready. He made a perfect dive, in spite of his fears, only to learn that he had jumped too soon, and the cameras had not gotten the picture. So he had to do it all over again, which he did successfully.

About 15 years ago I was in the city of Agra, India to see the Taj Mahal which is nearby. I saw a crowd gathering, watching someone high on a wall. The crowd gasped as the man dove from that wall over a hundred feet into a deep well. When he came out of the well, he went around in the crowd collecting coins. I was almost the last person he came to, so I asked him how much he had collected. He opened both hands and showed me 14 rupees—perhaps a nice sum to him, but actually worth only about $2.25 in United States money at the time.

People do very daring things for different reasons—some for money, some for glory or fame, and some for the challenge and thrill. But the money takes wings, the fame fades away, and the thrill is only for a few moments.

The Bible tells about some people who did many brave things, not for money or fame or thrills, but because they believed God and were faithful to Him and to His Word. Think about Gideon who went out against Midian’s large army with only 300 men. How about Jael, the wife of Heber, who slew the feared Sisera with a hammer and a tent nail. And David killed a lion and a bear which were after his father’s sheep, and slew the giant Goliath who defied the armies of the living God. Then there were Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who were willing to be cast into the burning, fiery furnace rather than worship the king’s golden image. And we can’t forget Daniel who went on praying three times a day, even though the penalty was to be thrown into the lions’ den.

Boys and girls, these are God’s heroes. Let us ask for His help that we might be like them. Men and women of faith “who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.” Hebrews 11:33,34. Read the rest of these verses (35-40) and the first four verses of chapters 12. Yes, these are God’s heroes—this is His honor roll.

ML-01/29/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: Lions of the Sea

“Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice.... Let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof.” 1 Chronicles 16:31,32.

A stranger approaching San Miguel Island, 50 miles off the coast of California, might wonder at the noise he hears, increasing in volume the closer he gets to its rocky shore. He would soon discover the source—a colony of California sea lions, part of the 35,000 sea lions that make this their summer home. Big bulls, six to seven feet in length and weighing 650 pounds or more, roar during their waking hours to warn rival males to stay away. Females join in the noise, but with a softer bark, while the little “pups” bleat like lost sheep. The noise is deafening and certainly not a place for a seaside picnic.

Altogether there are about 90,000 sea lions in the Pacific Ocean, most along California’s coast, but many on the shores of Japan as well. They have stream-lined bodies with smooth, round heads and can swim up to 25 miles per hour. The Creator gave them brown, warm fur to insulate them from cold and heat. Their bodies also are wrapped with thick blubber to protect from the cold.

In some ways they are similar to the walrus, but without its tusks and tough whiskers. But, like the walrus, their food is shrimp, shellfish, squid and many kinds of fish. They are excellent swimmers and divers and can stay underwater for half an hour. In this, too, the Lord God, their Creator, provided for them by giving them ears and nostrils, controlled by muscles, which automatically close when submerged.

Frequently fights occur between the huge males as they compete for a spot on the shore. These are frightful to witness, as sharp teeth make bloody wounds. However, their thick blubber protects them from serious injury, and it is rare for one to die from its wounds.

In the Bering Sea and Pribilof Islands of the far north, another species of sea lion lives—the Stellar. Though not as numerous as the California variety, they are much larger with some reaching ten feet in length and weighing as much as a ton. They are more adapted to the frigid northern Pacific waters, but sometimes small groups come farther south.

Pups are born on land at the time the males are with their harems, so are protected by the males. Immediately after birth the mother and her single pup “talk” constantly to each other. They become so well acquainted with each other’s voice that they can identify one another by calling through the group’s noise if they become separated. The pups quickly take to the water where they love to play, often forming “pods” (like gangs of teen-agers) and act tough, but it is all in play. If trained, they quickly learn tricks.

Many sea lions, living in obscure places, are never seen by people, but there is One whose eye is always on them. “For He looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven.” Job 28:24. The Bible also tells us, “The Lord is in His holy temple, the Lord’s throne is in heaven: His eyes behold, His eyelids try, the children of men.” Psalms 11:4. What does He see when His eyes rest on you?

ML-01/29/1984

The Shelter at Gornergrat

Memory Verse: “And a man shall be as a hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.” Isaiah 32:2

What a treat Pat and Artie were having! Vacationing with Grandpa in beautiful Switzerland and Austria, the boys had seen the great glacier which is the source of the mighty Rhone River, and had even gone into an ice cave in the glacier. A highlight of the trip was the train ride up through the Alps to Gornergrat. All the way up in the train, they had glimpses of the breathtaking, majestic mountain peak known as the Matterhorn. To many people this rugged mountain is a symbol of Switzerland.

After arriving at the Gornergrat train station, Grandpa and the boys set off along the rocks of a mountain ridge to get a better view of the Matterhorn and to take some pictures. Grandpa was particular about his photography, and the view that day was certainly worth taking pictures of. While he was getting some pictures Pat and Artie scampered around on the rocks.

Suddenly—unbelievably fast—the Matterhorn disappeared behind clouds, and the sky became overcast. It began to hail, and Grandpa became concerned about their safety.

Just then, Grandpa spotted a place where the rocks jutted out overhead where they could huddle, safe from the worst of the hailstorm. It was windy and cold now that the sun was behind the clouds. Thinking the boys might be hungry, Grandpa remembered something. Fishing around in his jacket pocket, he found a bar of delicious Swiss chocolate which he shared with the two boys. Then, almost as suddenly as it started, the storm let up. They lost no time in making their way back to the Gornegrat train station. How thankful they were to the Lord Jesus for the hiding place they had found in the rock!

Boys and girls, there is a lovely verse in the book of Isaiah in the Bible, chapter 32, verse 2, which says, “And a man shall be as a hiding place from the wind, and a covert [shelter] from the tempest. . . as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.” Who is that Man? Why it is no one else but the Lord Jesus Christ, our precious Saviour. Yes, as an old hymn tells us, “Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land, A shelter in the time of storm.” When the storm of God’s judgment broke in all its fury on the Lord Jesus on the cross of Calvary, He had no shelter. But He became a shelter for all who will put their trust in Him. Have you found shelter in Him?

ML-02/05/1984

Tumble on Skis

I stepped out the door of the chalet into the bright winter sunshine and looked around at the different slopes where people were skiing. My oldest brother had already gone flying down the mountain, so I had to decide for myself where to ski. Since I was pretty much a beginner and wanted to ski by myself anyway, I picked a side of the slope where no one else was skiing. It looked as if I would probably end up somewhere near the ski lift at the bottom, so I was not worried about getting lost.

After buckling my skis onto the boots, I lifted the poles and pushed off. The cold, dry air stung my cheeks as I sailed over the smooth snow. After several seconds I felt like I was going too fast and tried to slow down by turning from side to side. It did not work; I had lost control! The smooth surface I was skiing on was solid ice, so none of my efforts could turn the skis in any direction.

Everything might have been fine if I had not panicked. I probably could have skied to the bottom, but I was so scared because of the speed I was going that I tried to stop right then. I dug the poles into the crust on the snow and almost lost them. I pointed my skis in a useless attempt to plow to a stop, but instead of stopping, my legs slid wide apart and one ski turned completely around, painfully twisting my knee. I finally fell head first and continued to slide down the hill a little way.

This slope had seemed like such a good one to ski down. I had reasons why I chose it and could not see anything wrong with it. It made me think of what God says in the Bible: “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12. God is not talking about a ski slope here, but rather a way of life. Most people decide on their own how to live their life, but only God’s way is right. God’s Son, Jesus, said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6.

My skis finally came off, and I tried to get up, but my knee and leg hurt so badly that I could not. There were no people in sight, and no one else was likely to be foolish enough to go down the same slope. So I started to crawl up the steep incline, dragging my skis. Then I heard footsteps crunching nearby. A lady was hiking up the mountain carrying her skis. She stopped when she saw me and asked if I needed help. I explained what had happened and that I could not walk. The lady was concerned and said my face looked pale. She picked up my skis and helped me up to the chalet. I thanked her, and she went on her way. My brother helped me get my boots off and into bed. And that’s where I had to stay for the next few days, until my leg was feeling better.

I got myself into trouble by choosing the way I wanted to go, which ended up being the wrong way down the mountain. I would not have made it back to the top without that lady’s help. In the same way none of us can come to God by our own standards or reach heaven without the Lord Jesus Christ. God sent the Lord Jesus to find us and bring us back from the wrong way we have chosen. “The Son of man [the Lord Jesus is called this, too, because He became a man] is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10. If you will just pray to Him right now, asking Him to be your Saviour, He will save you and set you on the right way.

ML-02/05/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Ways of Woodpeckers - Part 1

“The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.” Psalms 50:1.

We hear the sound as we walk through the forest—rat-a-tat, rat-at, rat-a-tat. High on the trunk of a dead tree we finally see what is making the noise—a woodpecker clinging to the trunk with its head hammering against it as though trying to beat its brains out. But it knows what it is doing, as we will soon see.

There are nearly two dozen kinds of woodpeckers in North America and about 300 throughout the rest of the world. The smallest is the downey which is six inches long from beak to tail tip. The largest is the ivory-billed woodpecker which is a foot and a half long. All climb tree trunks and spend many hours on them searching for food. The Creator has equipped them for this by providing them with two strong toes pointing forward and two pointing backward, although some species have just one pointing backward. Their claws dig firmly into the tree. In addition, stiff tail feathers with sharp barbs on their tips press against the trunk giving added support.

The woodpecker is considered by many to be the most baffling of all birds, as it slams its head against tree trunks hundreds of times a minute several times a day. Any other bird or animal trying to do this would damage its head, neck and body so severely that it would not survive very long. But God designed woodpeckers with bodies that thrive on such treatment. You see, there has always been a special work for them to do which is helpful to trees and mankind as well. To do this work it has been given a large head, a short and powerful neck and a strong chisel-like beak which keeps growing to take care of “wear and tear.” Its head is reinforced inside with bony supports, a lining and an air space, all to protect the brain. How wisely God has made all His creatures!

One reason why these birds drill holes in trees is to make a nest. They first cut an entrance and then enlarge it inside to a foot or more deep and several inches across. Chips falling to the bottom of the hole provide a soft base for the half dozen or more glossy white eggs that will be laid. The male bird starts the carving, but usually leaves the finishing to his mate. These holes are used only one season—new ones being drilled each year. No doubt the abandoned ones are a delight to other birds, squirrels and chipmunks that usually take them over.

It is certain that the Lord God, the Creator, takes real delight in these birds, as it is written of Him: “For Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.” Revelation 4:11. More importantly, it is through Him that you are here, as the Bible verse says, “For in Him we live, and move, and have our being.” Acts 17:28. Are you aware of that care, and have you thanked Him for His love and kindness to you?

ML-02/05/1984

A Short Week

Memory Verse: “God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:17

Stacie was excited as she said goodbye to her mother and got into the car. She and her friend Holly were going camping for a whole week with Holly’s Aunt Linda and Aunt Linda’s girl friend Lisa. The canoe was strapped onto the roof of the car, and the tent and sleeping bags were in the trunk. It was going to be fun. Stacie could hardly wait to get there.

The trip was long, and Holly and Stacie played games in the back seat most of the way. Every once in a while they got impatient and asked how much longer it would be before they got to the campsite. They stopped to get ice cream after a while, and a little later they stopped for something to drink.

There were more and more mountains the farther north they drove. They noticed the air beginning to get cooler, and they could see a few pine trees. The road went up and down steep hills until finally, at the bottom of a hill, they came to the river where they were going to leave their car.

As soon as the car stopped, Stacie jumped out with Holly right behind her. The river looked like it would be nice and cool to swim in, but they had to wait for Aunt Linda and Lisa who were lifting the canoe off the roof and unloading the car. The two six-year-old girls talked excitedly about all the things they were going to do—fishing, swimming, hiking in the woods—and about the toys they had brought with them.

At last the canoe was ready. The tent, duffle bags, sleeping bags and food were packed tightly in place, and there was just enough room in the middle for Stacie and Holly to sit. Lisa and Aunt Linda tied bright orange life preservers around the girls, helped them into the canoe, and then got in themselves. Stacie and Holly screamed as the heavily loaded canoe rocked back and forth. “We’re tipping over!” they wailed. Lisa and Aunt Linda just laughed, because they knew that canoes always tip a little when you get in them.

Holly and Stacie could hardly move, there were so many supplies packed around them, so they trailed their fingers through the water and watched the tiny bugs scooting across the surface of the river. After they paddled for a long time, the sun began setting behind a mountain as they came out of the river into a lake. “Just one more bend... we’re almost there,” Aunt Linda assured them. She and Lisa guided the canoe between a huge rock and an overhanging tree, then Lisa hopped out onto the shore.

It was a lot of work to unpack everything and set up the tent. Soon it was too dark to see. The only light came from the moon high over the water. Lisa lit a propane lantern so the girls could get ready for bed. Stacie and Holly were very tired as they crawled into their sleeping bags. They could hear Aunt Linda and Lisa splashing around in the lake. Just before falling off to sleep they decided they would go swimming first thing the next morning.

Stacie woke up and saw the sun shining through the tent window. At first she could not remember where she was. Then she saw Holly and the other two. Soon they were awake, too. Aunt Linda sent everyone into the woods to collect firewood so they could cook breakfast.

The day went by quickly. Holly took Stacie down to a rock to go fishing, but all they caught were some branches that were floating in the water. They went swimming at a little beach that Aunt Linda’s brother had found a few years before. Lisa had brought inflatable rafts for the girls to use in the water. Stacie found some mussel shells which she carefully piled up to take home to show her mother and father. She kept looking forward to the fun she would have telling them about the things she had done and seen on this camping trip.

Soon the sun was going down again, and it was time to eat dinner. Stacie could not help wondering what her mother and father were having for dinner back home. Suddenly she missed them very much. She tried to have a good time, but she kept thinking about how much her parents loved her and how good it would be to get back home and see them. Stacie was very quiet during dinner. All of a sudden she could not hold in her homesickness any longer and she started to cry. Lisa took her down to the lake, and they watched the sun setting and talked for a while—until Stacie felt better and thought she could go to sleep.

When morning came, though, Stacie still missed her parents terribly. She did not think she could wait until the end of the week to see them. She managed not to cry most of the day, but that evening she asked Lisa and Aunt Linda how many days were left. “Three days,” answered Lisa, and then Stacie could not keep her tears back. She cried herself to sleep that night.

Aunt Linda and Lisa knew how badly Stacie wanted to go home, so the next day the four of them got in the canoe and paddled their way back to the river and down to where their car was parked. They drove several miles to the nearest town and called Holly’s grandpa from a telephone booth. He said he would drive up and get the two little girls. When Stacie heard that she was glad, because it meant she would see her mommy and daddy again soon.

Stacie knew her mother and father loved her, and she loved them, too. Do you know that you have a Father in heaven who loves you? If you have received the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, then His Father (God) is your Father. Jesus said, “For the Father Himself loveth you, because ye [you] have loved Me, and have believed that I came out from God.” John 16:27.

When we are away from those we love, we often get homesick. This probably has happened at one time or another to everyone. It can be a good thing, because it shows that our thoughts, interest and love are on the ones back home.

What about each of us who know the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour? Are we “homesick” to be with the One who loves us and died for us? Or, are we enjoying ourselves so much in this world that we are not thinking of our real home above—heaven? If we become too involved or too occupied with our daily activities, no matter what they are, we will not be watching for the return of the Lord Jesus.

Is the Lord Jesus your Saviour? If not, then why not accept Him right now. He loves sinners (you and me) so much that He died on the cross for the sins of all who would believe in Him. “For 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.

ML-02/12/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Ways of Woodpeckers - Part 2

“Thou hast made... the earth and all things that are therein... and Thou preservest them all.” Nehemiah 9:6.

Woodpeckers are pretty birds with mixed colors of black, yellow, orange, red, green, white, etc. Some, like the pileated and ivory-billed varieties, have beautiful tufts of feathers forming crowns on their heads.

Their hole drilling is principally to get at beetles, grubs and other insects inside trees. They have an amazing ability to hear these insects chewing the wood, and a hole is drilled at that spot with the bird’s tongue reaching in to pull out the meal.

Their tongue is one of the things setting these birds apart from other birds. While most have tongues connected to their mouths, woodpeckers have tongues attached to thin, flexible bones passing over the skull and coiling up behind it. Can you guess why God made it that way? The reason is that a woodpecker needs to get far back in the hole to catch the insect. If its tongue were attached to its mouth it would not be long enough. So one that stretches out far was provided by a wise Creator. The tongues of woodpeckers are also specially designed in other ways. For instance, the pretty flicker has a long, sticky one. Any ant, beetle or borer touched by it cannot escape. Other varieties have barbs on the end to pierce the insect, pulling it out of its home. Another, the sapsucker, drills most of its holes in just the outer layers of live trees. These holes form little wells where sweet sap collects. The end of its tongue is equipped with a brush, helping it to lap up the syrup.

The acorn woodpecker, named for its fondness of acorns, has an interesting practice. It drills holes in trees, fence posts, or utility poles and then stuffs one acorn in each hole. Often hundreds and even thousands of storage “cupboards” are made to assure it plenty to eat in winter months.

Woodpeckers are very beneficial to mankind, devouring millions of harmful insects. Without their help many trees would die from the attacks of insects. Thus they are another example of God’s ways of keeping a necessary balance among all things in His creation.

Where do you think these remarkable birds learned how to capture insects hidden inside tree trunks? Where did they receive the unusual features of their bodies? We know they did not slowly develop these qualities over centuries of time. They were given them by the Creator when He placed them on the earth, as it is written: “In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.” Job 12:10.

This reminds us that we, too, share in His blessings. We are responsible not only to enjoy them, but to own Him as the One who is “the way, the truth and the life.” He, the only Saviour of sinners, invites us to believe on Him for everlasting life (1 Tim. 1:15).

ML-02/12/1984

Chico's Witness

Memory Verse: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 1:15

“Shine, mister?” beamed Chico as he stopped in front of the businessman with scruffy-looking shoes who was absorbed in reading a newspaper. The cabin of the Staten Island ferry was crowded this cold morning. It was early November, and a sharp wind kept most of the rush-hour passengers from strolling on the open decks during the 20-minute ride to downtown New York.

“Why not?” answered the businessman. He placed his right shoe on Chico’s shoeshine box and went back to reading his paper. Chico worked quickly and whistled a happy tune as his brush and rag kept time to the music. “What are you so happy about?” grumbled the businessman.

Chico flashed a broad, toothy smile and tapped the businessman’s left foot to indicate he was ready for the other shoe. While the businessman changed shoes on the shine box, Chico prayed for courage to speak a word for his Saviour.

“Mister, you’d be happy too if you knew Jesus as your Saviour. A few months ago I was headed for real trouble. I was runnin’ around with a gang of guys who were stealin’ and fightin’ most of the time. My mom was at work all day, my dad’s in jail, and my grandma’s almost blind, so I came and went as I pleased. One day some of us went into a store-front meeting to make trouble. We started cursing as loud as we could, but the preacher just asked everyone to sing a hymn, ‘Christ is the Saviour of sinners.’ As they sang the other guys all left. Somehow, I felt glued to my seat. Every time they sang the chorus, ‘Saviour of sinners, Saviour of sinners like me, Shedding His blood for my ransom, This is the Saviour for me,’ I felt a longing in my heart to know more about this Saviour. I sat through the whole meeting, and at the end I just sat there with my head bowed, wishing for all the world I could say I had such a Saviour. I guess the preacher saw me, because he came down and put his hand on my shoulder and asked me if I wanted to have peace and joy and know for sure that my sins were forgiven. I said, ‘You bet I do!’

“Well, mister,” Chico continued as he put the finishing touches to the second shoe, “that preacher explained it all to me, and I got down on my knees and accepted Jesus as my Saviour... and I’ve had a heart full of joy and peace ever since then. My old gang thinks I’m nuts, but they know something has happened to me. And it can happen to you, too, mister, if you’ll receive Jesus as your Saviour. That’ll be 50 cents,” he said, tapping the businessman’s foot to indicate the shine was finished.

“Here, keep the change,” said the businessman, handing Chico a dollar bill. He tucked his paper under his arm, picked up his briefcase and headed out to the windswept deck as Chico moved to his next customer.

Here we must leave the businessman with his thoughts and alone with God. But what about you? Do you know Chico’s Saviour?

“The Son of man came... to give His life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28.

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 1:15.

ML-02/19/1984

A Surprise for Grandma

Grandma and Grandpa were enjoying their first visit to sunny Spain and the beautiful city of Barcelona which overlooks the sparkling blue of the Mediterranean Sea. They had gone to Barcelona with their son-in-law who was on a business trip there. The three of them spent the morning sightseeing in the old city.

When lunchtime came they decided to eat in a restaurant which was at the top of a high building that overlooked the harbor. Grand ma was not fond of riding in elevators, but the view from the restaurant at the top was worth it. The food was delicious, and the three of them ate their lunch slowly as they enjoyed the scenery. Steamers making their stately way into the harbor, sailboats bobbing on the waves, and sturdy little fishing boats coming in with the day’s catch all captured their attention as they ate.

At last the leisurely lunch was finished, and Grandma prepared herself for the unpleasant elevator ride down to the street. Her son-in-law guided her and Grandpa through some doors and into a car which, even before it started, was a little too shaky for Grandma. Suddenly the car began to move, but not down, as Grandma expected. It began to move ahead, and soon the car was out over the Barcelona harbor with nothing underneath but the sparkling blue of the sea. Grandma gasped as she realized she was riding in a cable car. There was nothing to do but enjoy the ride, and soon they were safely at the other side.

As soon as Grandma was safely out of the car, she and Grandpa began to chuckle about the surprise they had had. But I don’t think we could have gotten Grandma to go back into that cable car again, no matter how beautiful the view might be.

Although it is amusing to think of Grandma’s surprise ride, you probably know of people who are so afraid of a certain thing that they will not try it. Some are afraid to ride in airplanes or boats, some are afraid to eat a certain food because they don’t think they will like it. And then there are some boys and girls, and older ones too, who are afraid to make a decision—the decision to be saved. They are afraid to accept the Lord Jesus as their Saviour because of what their friends at school or work might think. They are afraid it might mean missing out on all the fun and good times that their unsaved friends enjoy.

But what these people should be more afraid of is the anger of God against sin. In the Bible God tells us sin must be punished (Rom. 6:23), and that each of us will be punished for our sins in that awful place called hell if we will not accept His plan of salvation. God loves us so much He sent His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die on the cross, bearing the punishment for sin. He is a loving Saviour who wants everyone to be saved. But if His love is refused, then punishment is the only choice left—and the punishment in hell never ends.

You can escape this punishment by accepting the Lord Jesus as your Saviour right now. He went to the cross for sinners just like you and me. There in those three hours of darkness in the middle of the day, He was punished for the sins of everyone who would believe in Him. He has opened the way to heaven for all who will admit that they are sinners and turn to Him for forgiveness. Don’t be afraid to make that decision. He loves you very much and wants to save you. Won’t you make that decision right now?

“Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood... to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever.” Revelation 1:5, 6.

ML-02/19/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Beauty of the Snow

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” Isaiah 1:18.

How lovely the new snowfall looks. Every ugly place now is beautiful, hidden under a fresh, white blanket. The above verse is like a picture of our sins, which keep us from God. It invites everyone to hear how their sins may be made “white as snow.” Many Bible verses explain this. One of them is “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7. The Lord Jesus Christ gave His life and shed His blood on the cross so that the scarlet stain of sin may now be removed. All who come to Him as repentant sinners, believing that the Lord Jesus has borne God’s judgment that would otherwise fall on them, and accepting the Lord Jesus as his or her Saviour, can be as “white as snow” before God. Are you among those who have done this?

It is always snowing somewhere, and about one fourth of the world is permanently covered with snow. Glaciers and icebergs all begin as snow which builds up and is pressed into ice by its own weight. Some of these glaciers are more than two miles thick. Snowflakes are transparent ice crystals that have formed high in the sky. Their whiteness results from light reflecting from their many facets. Each flake is a wonderful display of God’s delight in making things of beauty. Ninety-six varieties and shapes of snowflakes have been classified, nearly all being hexagonal (six-sided), and no two identical ones have ever been found. What a wonderful Creator the Lord God is!

We think of snow as being very cold, but to many animals and insects it is a warm blanket. Insulated under it and safely hidden from enemies, mice, ground squirrels, porcupines, some birds and other small creatures make snug, warm homes. One, a little coney called the pika, not only has comfortable rooms under the snow connected by tunnels, but also has a runway to a nearby “barn” where, during summer months, it stored a good supply of food. Many insects also keep active with hidden runways taking them to feeding grounds underneath the snow. It is helpful to some larger animals as well. For instance, deer and rabbits benefit as the snow gets deeper, because it helps them to reach foliage and buds of trees that had been too high for them before. Isn’t it wonderful how the Lord thinks about these creatures all through the year?

One snowflake (many times lighter than a raindrop) seems so small, but multiplied by millions they provide a storehouse of water in hot summer months—another provision of the Creator for all. On the other hand, too much snow can cause a disaster on some occasions. The habits of every person are like this. At first the habits do not seem like serious matters, but, depending if they are good or bad, repeated over and over they may become a real blessing or things of harm to ourselves and others.

Being aware of this we can pray, “Teach me Thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path.” “Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” Psalms 27:11 and 51:7. The Lord will gladly answer such prayers.

ML-02/19/1984

Jairus's Little Girl

Memory Verse: “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.” Psalm 34:8

In the Bible in the books of Matthew, Mark and Luke there is a short story about a man named Jairus, his wife and their daughter who was very sick. She was just 12 years old and so sick that her mother and father were afraid that she was going to die.

The Lord Jesus who was on earth as a man during this time had gone away from the town in which Jairus lived. But He was now returning in a boat with some of His disciples. A crowd of people was waiting for him on the shore.

We can imagine how concerned Jairus and his wife were as they cared for their daughter whose life was slipping away. They knew about the Lord Jesus and the miracles that He had done. “If only He were here now!” they must have thought.

When Jairus heard that Jesus was back he came to Him, fell down at His feet and asked Him to come to his house. We are not told what Jesus said to Jairus, just that He went with him. The Lord Jesus is always ready to answer those who call to Him for help. He heard the call of Jairus, and He will hear your call, too, if you just believe that He can help you.

The love of the Lord Jesus is seen so many times in the Bible as we read about His life. He went where He was needed and where He could show forth the great love and kindness of God. Because of who He was, He could have just spoken a word and Jairus’s little girl would have been healed immediately, but He did not do this. Instead, He actually went with Jairus to his home.

I think we can imagine how relieved Jairus must have felt as Jesus started to walk along the road with him. But how slowly the crowd moved! It was not that Jesus wanted to go slowly, but the people pressed around Him, and it seemed as if they would never reach Jairus’s home. Poor Jairus! Would Jesus get there in time, or would they find they were too late?

Suddenly Jairus saw someone coming toward him whom he recognized. It was one of his own servants. He was bringing Jairus some news! Perhaps his little girl was better, or—he hardly dared to think of it—perhaps she was worse. What was the news—had she died? Yes, she had! Oh, what sadness filled his heart. Now it was no use. His servant had said, “Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.” Luke 8:49.

Can you imagine the disappointment that Jairus felt? His daughter was dead—oh, what sorrow! But let us look at Jesus. His face had not changed. If anything it showed an even more tender look of love and understanding as He spoke to Jairus.

What was He saying to Jairus? Wonderful words—amazing words — “Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.” verse 50. What wonderful words these were for a sorrowing father.

On they moved toward Jairus’s house. Crowds of people were at the house, weeping and showing how sad they were.

When Jesus saw the crowd of people, He said to them, “Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.” verse 52. The crowd did not understand what He meant, and instead of believing what Jesus said, they laughed at Him. Jesus, of course, knew that she had really died, but He knew also what He was going to do, and this enabled Him to speak such wonderful words. Although it was a terrible thing to laugh at what Jesus had said, He did not scold them about it, instead He sent them all outside.

Now three of the disciples, Peter, James and John had come with Jesus to Jairus’s house. Jesus took these three and the father and mother and they went into the room where the little girl was lying. Did they really believe what Jesus had said—that she was only asleep? Then came the most wonderful sight they had ever seen. Jesus went right to the bed where the little girl was lying and took her hand in His. Just think of that—Jesus took her by the hand! We must never forget who Jesus is. He was, He is and always will be God Himself, but He had come into this world as a man. God Himself in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ had come so close to a little girl that He could take hold of her hand. But He did even more than that. He said, “Damsel, I say unto thee, arise” (Mark 5:41), and immediately she opened her eyes and sat up. Can you picture how amazed her father and mother must have been to see all this, and their deep joy as they watched her get up and walk? Their little girl was perfectly well again!

People who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour are looked upon by God as being dead. Of course, these people are living and walking and talking as we see them, but as God sees them it is as though they were actually dead— “dead in trespasses and sins.” Ephesians 2:1.

When a person we know dies, they cannot love us any more or speak to us or do little things for us. This is just the way-that unforgiven sinners appear in the sight of God. But, thank God, sinners do not have to remain like this. The Lord Jesus Himself has gone into death and come out of it again. In His love He has taken the sinner’s place, taking the punishment that we as sinners deserved. The wonderful result is that by believing in Him and accepting for ourselves what He has done, we become “alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:11.

With our sins forgiven and gone forever we can come near to God in complete peace. Our hearts now are filled with His love, and we are happy to talk to Him, praise Him and serve Him. But the start of it all is a touch from Jesus Himself. Then having started on the right road, He will guide us and lead us until we go to be with Him in heaven where “there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Revelation 21:4.

ML-02/26/1984

For Lost Children

Some years ago a group of Christians was holding open-air meetings on the boardwalk at South Beach, Staten Island in the city of New York. It was a Sunday afternoon in the middle of the summer season, and the boardwalk was crowded with people.

A tall, dignified-looking man began to preach the gospel. He Pointed to a fenced-in area near where the meeting was being held and called attention to a sign on the fence which said “FOR LOST CHILDREN.” The preacher, who had six lively children of his own, told the crowd that he had carefully shown this enclosed area to his children and had explained to them that if they ever got lost in the crowd on the boardwalk, to look for the enclosed area and wait in it for Dad and Mother who would look for them there.

It is frightening to be lost, but to admit that we are lost sinners is a good thing, for the Bible tells us, “The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10. The Lord Jesus left heaven above to come here to seek and to save those who are lost in sin. He died on the cross and shed His precious blood to save us and bring us to God. Have you ever admitted to God that you are lost?

ML-02/26/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: Scoundrel Birds

“O Lord my God, Thou art very great; Thou.... [dost send] the springs into the valleys.... By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.” Psalms 104:1-12.

The sight and sounds of birds usually produce pleasant thoughts, for so many of them cheer us with their pretty colors and sweet songs. But this is not true of all birds. As we learn more about birds, we find certain species are too lazy to build their own nests and hatch their young, forcing others to do these chores for them. Other species have even worse habits.

Cuckoos are rather drab birds, ranging in size from 7 to 24 inches. They commonly lay eggs in the nests of robins, warblers, sparrows, magpies and others. One even deposits her eggs in crows’ nests. Some of them lay as many as a dozen eggs during nesting season, but place just one in each nest, apparently choosing those where their eggs will look like the others. They do this while the nest’s owner is absent, and on her return she is unaware of the addition, proceeding to hatch it along with her own. Though the baby cuckoo is not at all like the mother’s own chicks, she feeds and cares for it as if it were her own, even when it grows to be twice as big as she is!

The cowbird sometimes takes over the nest of another bird in the same way. But on occasion she will roll out the owner-bird’s eggs, lay her own and take over the nest, not allowing the other bird to return to it.

The males of the honeyguide species will attack a bird sitting on its nest, forcing it to fly off. Then his female companion comes and lays her egg for the nest’s owner to hatch. Young honeyguides are vicious and stab to death the chicks of the true mother when they hatch. All birds that do this are called “parasites” and have similar bad habits, either killing their nest mates or pushing the eggs out of the nest.

These adult birds do not always get away with these activities. Sometimes a bird realizes a strange egg is present, rolls it out of the nest, or leaves it and makes a new nest, laying new eggs of her own. The house wren and yellow warbler are not easily fooled. Seeing an egg of a different color or larger than her own, the wren punctures it and pushes it out. The warbler simply builds another nest on top of the original, laying new eggs and letting the others spoil. If crows or robins catch these scoundrel birds doing these things, several band together, chase them away and often kill them.

Many other birds, such as finches, certain ducks, some orioles, weavers, etc. also follow these bad practices. The behavior of all of them makes us think of Satan, who is always looking for an opportunity to get his thoughts into our hearts and minds. The Lord Jesus said of him, “the same is a thief and a robber.” In contrast He spoke of Himself, saying, “I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:9. Are you letting Satan into your life, or have you entered through the Living Door to know God’s salvation?

ML-02/26/1984

Pepper

Memory Verse: “The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

We live next door to a family with five children and a dog named Pepper. He is a friendly little dog who enjoys playing with the children. But even though Pepper is friendly and has a happy home, he once had a bad habit. He chased cars. It was this bad habit that got him into trouble one day.

It was winter and Pepper was chasing a car when he slipped on a patch of ice. As he fell his long tail got caught in the back bumper of the car and was badly mangled. His owners took him to the vet who cleaned up and treated his other cuts and bruises. But Pepper’s long tail was in such bad shape that it had to be cut off.

Pepper’s five little owners were terribly upset. Poor Pepper! How would he ever get along without his tail? But it did not seem to bother him. He was just as friendly as always. However, there was one thing that had changed; Pepper does not chase cars anymore. He learned his lesson.

We can all learn a lesson from Pepper. We all have problems or sadness. Often the Lord Jesus uses these to make us stop and think. Is there a bad habit we have that God does not like? Are we “chasing” after something that is not pleasing to the Lord?

When problems come up, the first thing to do is go to the Lord Jesus in prayer about them. He sometimes has something to teach us, and He will help us to learn. If we are willing to learn the lesson, then we will be happy in the sunshine of His love. Pepper did not worry about living without his tail, and we do not need to worry about tomorrow, either. How good it is to be able to take everything to God in prayer, and ask Him to help us and guide us.

What a Friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear;

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer.

O, what peace we often forfeit,

O, what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer.

“Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7.

ML-03/04/1984

Uncle Ben

Six-year-old Tracy and her mother were visiting us for a few days. One evening I was taking care of Tracy while her mother and my wife went shopping. I had been told to put Tracy to bed at 8:30.

As bedtime drew closer I was sitting reading the newspaper. I called Tracy telling her it was time to put her toys away and get ready for bed. She said she wasn’t tired. But when I explained that she still had to go to bed, she cleaned things up and got into her pajamas. Then she came to me asking, “Uncle Ben, can you tell me a story about Jesus? Mommy always does before I go to bed.”

Her question embarrassed me, and I pretended not to hear and continued reading the paper. I was embarrassed because I did not know enough about Jesus even to tell a story to a six-year-old.

Two more times Tracy asked the same question. When I did not answer her she climbed up beside me in the chair and looked right at me and asked, “You know about Jesus, don’t you?”

I don’t remember how I answered that question, but it brought thoughts and feelings to me that I had never had before. I am afraid I disappointed Tracy that evening, because she never got the story she wanted.

Several times during the night I awakened, and the first thing I thought about was Tracy’s question, “You know about Jesus, don’t you?” This continued for several days. I knew that I did not know about Jesus and did not want to know Him, until then.

I found a Bible and began reading in Matthew, then Mark, Luke and John. The more I read the more I wanted to read. I read in those pages that I was a sinner in God’s sight. But best of all I found the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. I saw that by His going to the cross and being punished for my sins, I could be saved and be with Him in heaven. Now I know something about Jesus, that loving Saviour about whom Tracy so eagerly wanted to hear.

How powerful is the name of Jesus! That name spoken by Tracy and the Spirit of God working on the conscience of Uncle Ben were used to save him. God’s Word, the Bible, showed Uncle Ben that he was lost in sin and that only God had the answer to that problem. It showed to him a Saviour, the Lord Jesus, who died for sinners, who rose again from the dead and now lives forever in heaven.

“What think ye of Christ?” was the question the Lord asked when He was here. How have you answered that question? If someone asks you if you know Jesus, what will you say? Think about these questions. They are life’s most important questions! Don’t turn away from God’s love and continue down that broad road which leads to destruction. Turn to Him and be saved.

“Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?” Ezekiel 33:11.

“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him.” Nahum 1:7.

ML-03/04/1984

Caribou

During the winter when the snow becomes deep, some of the larger animals that do not hibernate (sleep through the winter), often have difficulty finding enough food to eat. In Canada where this occurs with the caribou herds during most winters, the Canadian Air Force will help by hauling hay for the caribou to eat. Once the herds are located, planes loaded with bales of hay will fly near them and drop these bales for them.

Recently a pilot reported that he was hauling hay to a large herd that was stranded in deep snow in an area 400 miles north of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Many of the caribou were lying down, because they were too weak to stand. When the hay was dropped they could not even get up to eat. As the pilot circled the herd he saw a strange sight. Several of the stronger caribou walked over to the hay, picked some up in their mouths, and carried it to the weak and dying animals. They laid the hay down close enough so that the caribou who could not get up could reach it.

What a good lesson this is for each of us in being kind to others. Every kind act we do for others, if it is done to please the Lord Jesus, will be rewarded by Him. The Lord Jesus says, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.” Matthew 25:40.

“I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35.

ML-03/04/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Stealthy Bobcat

“Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind... [every] beast of the earth after his kind.” Genesis 1:24.

Bobcats live in southern Canada, in many places in the United States, and as far south as lower Mexico. They are just as much at home in deserts and sagebrush as they are in forests or on rocky hillsides. Shy and stealthy, it is their sharp hearing that warns them to hide quickly from danger, and being well camouflaged they are difficult to spot. However, hikers have sometimes been startled to see one standing on a nearby log, looking them over and then suddenly disappearing.

Bobcats are often confused with lynx or wildcats. Although reseling one another, each is a separate species of its own. The bobcat is a pretty animal, looking much like a large, domestic cat that has escaped from its owner’s home. But its black, stubby tail and buff-colored fur, patterned with black markings over its body and a solid black streak running the length of its spine, immediately show it to be something else. A full-grown, 30-pound male stands about 20 inches high and is almost three feet long.

The bobcat is a wonderful hunter. It stalks its victim by creeping a few inches at a time on its soft paws with its body pressed to the ground. It patiently waits until it is near enough to make a lightning dash and then pounces on its victim. Rabbits are a favorite food, and farmers appreciate the bobcat’s help in keeping this crop spoiler under control. It also kills rats, mice, gophers, etc. Unwary birds are frequently caught, as well as turtles, and even fish are scooped out of a shallow pool. Although its piercing howls at night have frightened many a camper, the bobcat does not attack humans.

These outdoor cats are careful to keep themselves clean, licking their fur frequently and rubbing their heads with moist paws. In the wintertime their fur is thick and heavy, but it thins in the summer. This reminds us of the Creator’s kindness to the many animals He has established in the world, caring for their needs whatever the season may be. And this care of such animals reminds us, too, of His sure promise to those who love Him: “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper.” Hebrews 13:5,6.

The mother prepares for her expected young (three or four in a litter) by searching for a hidden den or a cave and lining the floor with soft materials. The mother does all the work alone, including gathering food and training. When the kittens are born they are blind for nine or ten days. At three months she teaches them to find their own food, and at nine months they leave to start independent lives.

How interesting it is to see how the Lord God cares for all the wild creatures He has placed on the earth. But of more importance is knowing that in His love to every man, woman, boy and girl, He not only watches over us even more carefully, but He invites us to take all our cares to Him as well. “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7.

ML-03/04/1984

The "Forgotten" Bible

Memory Verse: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24

Mr. Meyer, a Christian man from West Germany, was traveling in Communist Russia several years ago. Having finished his business, he was returning to his hotel in Moscow. However, because he did not understand much of the Russian language, he got lost. Seeing a policeman directing traffic at a busy corner, he went over and asked him for directions, using more German words than Russian. The policeman, hearing Mr. Meyer’s sprinkling of German words, spoke to him in German. “I learned German during the war,” explained the policeman. “I don’t get much opportunity to practice it. I’ll be taking a lunch break in a few minutes. Can we talk for a few minutes?”

Mr. Meyer agreed since he was not in a great hurry to get back to his hotel. Soon the two men were chatting happily over lunch.

During the conversation, Mr. Meyer kept looking for an opportunity to tell the policeman about the Lord Jesus. He silently prayed, asking the Lord Jesus to guide him as to what he should do. He knew that if he talked about the Lord Jesus, he could be turned over to the Russian secret police. Then any future visits to Russia would be impossible.

Suddenly Mr. Meyer felt he had the answer. He had a German Bible in his briefcase. In the middle of their conversation, he opened his briefcase and took out his German Bible. He knew that this was safe to do since visitors to Russia are allowed to keep anything they own. “But,” he thought, “how can I give this to the policeman?”

Setting the Bible on the table between them, Mr. Meyer looked at his watch and then quickly got up saying, “I’m sorry to have to leave, but I must get back to my hotel.” Then turning, he left the Bible on the table, praying that the Russian policeman would take the Bible home and read it.

Later that evening Mr. Meyer received a telephone call from the policeman. “You left your book on the table in the restaurant when you left today. I have it. What shall I do with it?” he asked.

“Why don’t you keep it for now,” answered Mr. Meyer. “It’s written in German. Read it so that you can keep up with the language. I will be returning in several months and will contact you then.”

Mr. Meyer returned to Germany and prayed for the Russian policeman. His prayer was that the man would read the Bible and see that the Lord Jesus is the only Saviour of sinners and be saved.

When he returned to Russia, he called the policeman on the telephone and asked about the Bible.

“Yes, I have your Bible,” answered the policeman. “I read it every day. Have you come to take it back?”

“Not if you want to keep it,” answered Mr. Meyer.

“Do you really mean that?” exclaimed the policeman. His voice was so happy that Mr. Meyer felt certain that God was working with him.

“Yes, keep the Bible,” added Mr. Meyer. “Keep it as a gift from me that God will bless.”

“God has already blessed me,” the policeman said. “I have found Jesus Christ, and He is my Saviour. What more do I need? That gift is worth more than all the world’s wealth put together!”

How wonderful are the ways of God! This dear Russian man behind the Iron Curtain is now a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. We can pray for him and others like him in lands where the gospel cannot be told out like it can in other countries. How thankful we should be that we have the freedom to read our Bibles and talk about the Lord Jesus without fear!

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Saviour of all sinners in every country—Russia, Germany, United States, England, Africa, India—everyone can be saved. As the Sunday school song says, “Red and yellow, black and white, all are precious in His sight.” He is the Saviour for boys and girls and older folks, too. God says, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13. You are a “whosoever.” Have you called upon Him yet? Can you say, “Yes, Jesus died for me"?

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3:36.

ML-03/11/1984

Faith

A missionary was in Africa for many years, telling the natives the wonderful story of the love of the Lord Jesus Christ for sinners. One day he was trying to explain to a group of them the meaning of faith. He said to them, “Do you see that pool of water over there? Have you ever seen that water get as hard as rock?”

“Oh, no!” they answered in surprise, since they had never seen ice.

“Believe me,” the missionary continued, “in the country where I come from the water gets so hard that you can stand on top of it!”

The natives did not understand this. One teenage boy was heard whispering to another that the missionary was telling lies.

The missionary went on to explain that even though they had never seen ice and did not understand how it could occur, the fact was still true. To believe it required faith. First, they needed faith in the missionary himself, that he would tell them only the truth. Second, they needed faith to believe that water could turn to ice, even though they had never seen it happen.

It is the same way with God—He tells only the truth. He has spoken to us in His Word, the Bible. Have you read it and believed it? He has told you that you are a sinner and that there is nothing that you can do to save yourself from your sins. But He has also told you that He loves you, and to show His love He sent His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die in your place. If you will accept Him as your Saviour, you will be saved from the punishment your sins require. Faith is believing God, because He says it.

Some months later the missionary returned to his northern homeland for a short visit. He brought back with him the native boy who thought he was lying when he told them about ice. It was winter, so the two of them went for a walk to a pond that was being used as a hockey rink by some boys.

Remembering what he had said in Africa, the missionary asked the boy if he would like to walk on the “hard water.”

The boy was afraid to at first, but the missionary took his hand, and together they went out on the frozen pond. Then jumping hard on the ice the missionary asked him, “Now do you believe what I said about water getting hard as a rock?”

“Yes,” he answered, “I believe it now.”

That native boy did not have faith. He would not believe the missionary until he saw the ice. If he had believed what the missionary had told him in Africa, that would have been faith... even though it sounded impossible to him. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1. Do you have faith in God and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ?

ML-03/11/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: How Many Moons Are There? - Part 1

“The heavens [skies] are Thine, the earth also is Thine... Thou hast founded them. The north and the south Thou hast created them.” Psalms 89:11,12.

One nice thing about the darkness of night is that the stars then make their appearance. Sunshine flooding the land is wonderful to see and enjoy, yet a person cannot gaze at the sun on a clear day without hurting his eyes. But the beauty of a full moon and all the stars shining behind it can be looked at with no harm resulting whatsoever. Most everyone enjoys looking at the wonders of a bright full moon rising in the east, often with a radiant glow, crossing the sky and eventually disappearing in the west.

What an awesome, yet beautiful sight rewards the stargazer, and if assisted with a telescope or binoculars, each point of light becomes increasingly more interesting. The Psalmist, perhaps lying on his back in a grassy field in the dark of night, expressed his wonder at it all saying, “The heavens declare the glory of God.” Psalms 19:1. Shouldn’t this be the conclusion of all who give serious thought to the beauty of these amazing lights shining through the endless heavens above us.

The moon at night appears to be the largest object in this display because it is so close to us, but it is actually a very small part of the heavens. However, it is well worth our study, particularly when we learn that God has placed it in exactly the right spot over the earth to be of the greatest benefit to all life on this planet. Not only does it give welcome light at night, but it is the principal means of producing and controlling ocean tides. Its force (together with wind) keeps the waters in constant motion, supplying oxygen to the oceans’ creatures as well as preventing the oceans from becoming stagnant, harmful and foul smelling. How carefully the Creator made this wonderful arrangement and has kept this balance all the years since creation! “Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?” Job 11:7.

Astronauts have now been able to visit the moon, walk on it, photograph mountains higher than Mt. Everest, and closely examine craters of long-extinct volcanoes. They found just what was anticipated—a big globe about one-fourth the earth’s size, located 239,000 miles above it, with no life on it, no air, no water, no grass, no green trees, no rivers, no lakes or oceans. As expected, it proved to be a “dead body” in space, but placed by the Lord God in just the exact spot to most benefit the earth.

Praise the Lord, we do not need a telescope to find the Saviour! He has said, “I love them that love Me; and those that seek Me early shall find Me.” Proverbs 8:17. Another Bible verse says, “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near.” Isaiah 55:6. Make sure you have done this “while it is called To-day.” Hebrews 3:13.

Are there other moons? Yes, many, many more. We will consider them in the next issue.

ML-03/11/1984

Duty or Love

Memory Verse: “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

It was Friday afternoon and Albert Drecker was on duty at the train bridge that crossed the Passaic River. He had just raised the bridge to allow a boat to pass through. Now he was going to close it again, since a passenger train was due to come by any minute.

Suddenly he heard a noise behind him. Turning, he saw his little boy Peter disappearing in the water under the bridge! He had been playing on the river bank and had slipped and fallen down the steep hill right into the deep water. At the very same time Mr. Drecker heard the whistle of the passenger train in the distance. Although he could not see it he knew that he must get the bridge closed at once or the train would wreck! It would be so easy to save little Peter. He could jump into the water and rescue him. But if he stopped to rescue Peter, the train would wreck and many people would die. What should he do?

Can you imagine the terrible agony he felt as he watched his son struggling in the water and calling for help? Yet Mr. Drecker stayed at his post, controlling the movement of the bridge. Slowly, very slowly it came down. Again he heard the shrill whistle from the passenger train, now much closer. And again he heard the cries from his son, now much weaker.

As the bridge came down into place and was locked, Mr. Drecker dove into the water. He was not even aware of the clatter of the train crossing the bridge above him, as he frantically searched for his son in the black, murky water. He came back up to the surface, gulped some air and dove down again. He could not see a thing. He swam down to the bottom and then downstream from the spot where he last saw Peter struggling. His lungs were nearly bursting and he was almost ready to come to the surface when he felt Peter’s arm. Grasping it, he swam to the surface and pulled Peter’s still body up on shore.

With no one else around to help, Mr. Drecker tried everything he knew to revive his son, but nothing worked. He finally ran for help, but others were not able to revive him either. Little Peter had drowned.

Doesn’t this story make you sad when you think of the father’s love. He had to allow his own son to die in order to save the lives of all those people on the train. Now let’s think about God’s love for you and me. He loves us so much that He gave up His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross of Calvary. It was the only way that men, women, boys and girls could be saved from the punishment that their sins deserve.

This was God’s great question: since all people deserve punishment for their sins, shall they be sent to an everlasting hell, or shall God’s own dear Son, the Lord Jesus, be punished in their place? Thanks be to God for His wonderful love to us that made Him send His own Son into this world to die for guilty, hell-deserving sinners such as ourselves. Albert Drecker did not send his son Peter into the river; he fell in. But, “the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.” 1 John 4:14. Won’t you accept the Father’s loving gift of His Son to be your Saviour?

“God commendeth His love tard us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23.

ML-03/18/1984

The Doctor

Harry was a young man in the army. He had been brought up in a Christian family. His father and mother loved the Lord Jesus and knew Him as their Saviour and had taught their children about Jesus. But Harry had never accepted Jesus as his own Saviour. He knew how to be saved, he knew all about what Jesus had done, he had even memorized many verses in the Bible. But, he had never taken that step of accepting the Lord Jesus for himself.

Now he was in Korea during wartime. Even with some of his buddies being killed in the war, he still did not seem to be concerned about being saved. If anything, the war seemed to make him hardhearted. “God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.” Job 33:14. Some of his buddies were killed almost beside him. Still Harry did not seem to feel the need of settling the “heaven or hell” question for himself.

One night while Harry and his squad were on patrol, they were ambushed by the enemy. Harry was wounded and several others were killed. He was taken prisoner by the Communists.

For many days he lay in a North Korean army hospital where he had lots of time to think. Still, his close call with death and God’s mercy in sparing his life did not seem to soften his heart.

One day a young doctor in that Communist hospital came to Harry and asked him many questions. To Harry’s great surprise he discovered that the young Korean doctor was a Christian! The doctor had to be very careful not to say too much about God, or he would be punished. It was the beginning of Harry’s “waking up.” He thought to himself, “Here I am, brought up in a Christian family, having gone to Sunday school, having read the Bible, and still I am not a Christian.

Yet now I am being urged to become one by a North Korean army doctor in Communist territory!”

For the first time in his life, Harry was ashamed before God when he thought of how long he had ignored the Saviour who loved him. The Lord Jesus wanted to bless Harry. He had followed Harry all the way to Communist North Korea to bring him that eternal salvation that only Christ can give. When Harry thought of that love and the prayers that he knew were going up for him every day, he broke down. He surrendered to God and thankfully accepted the Lord Jesus as his own Saviour.

If you, like Harry, have not yet surrendered to Him who “loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20), why not give up your fight and ask Him to be your Saviour, too?

“God be merciful to me a sinner.” Luke 18:13.

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” 1 Timothy 1:15.

ML-03/18/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: How Many Moons Are There? - Part 2

Countless worlds are ever whirling

Through the boundless realms of space,

And the hand of Him who made them

Keeps each one in its true place.

Reference to “the planetary system” means the nine heavenly bodies (including our earth) that are grouped around the sun and held in their individual orbits by its great gravitational pull. The sun maintains this control because it is 700 times more massive than all the planets and their moons put together. But it is, of course, the Creator who has arranged this grouping and has kept its force operating since the first day of creation— “upholding all things by the word of His power.” Hebrews 1:3.

In outer space there are untold numbers of moons, but it is only those of “our planetary system” that are familiar to astronomers. In the language of these experts, planets are satellites of the sun, and moons are satellites of the planets.

There are 46 named moons (some have only recently been discovered and named), including the one over our earth. Every planet does not have a moon, but some have two or more circling around them. Mars and Neptune each have 2, Uranus has 5, Jupiter has 15, and Saturn has a total of 21. The earth’s moon is just average in size. Some are smaller than the earth’s moon and some are almost twice as large.

Many, like ours, are covered with mountains, plains and valleys. Some look like huge snowballs with icy coverings while others have volcanoes erupting on them. They are all interesting examples of the wonders of God’s creation.

Each moon follows its own orbit, century after century, keeping its exact position over its planet, never crashing into it or other moons. But the most extraordinary thing is that some circle their planets in one direction and some in another. Only one of the nine planets, Venus (which, incidentally, does not have a moon), orbits around the sun in a clockwise direction. The other eight all travel in the opposite direction. It would almost seem that Venus would interfere with the others, but the Creator does not allow that to happen.

Most moons travel the same direction as the eight planets, but not all. Neroid—one of Neptune’s moons—goes in “reverse,” but its companion, Triton, moves clockwise. The five moons of Uranus all circle it in the “reverse” direction. But strangest of all are the moons of Jupiter—eleven move around it in the counter-clockwise motion, but the other four in just the opposite direction! Did the Creator make an error in this? No. If it had been an error they would have crashed into each other long ago. We do not know why He made this interesting arrangement, but we do know He took pleasure in doing so, and that He has each of them under His control. “His work is perfect.” Deuteronomy 32:4.

Are you letting Him be the Guide and Protector of your present life? Have you made Him your Saviour to take care of your eternal life as well?

ML-03/18/1984

Kevin's Good News

Memory Verse: “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” Romans 1:16

Did your cat ever have kittens? What an exciting time it is for the children in a family when the mother cat finally lets everyone see and hold her furry little babies! How much fun it is to watch them change from helpless, blind little things to scampering, roly-poly, cuddly, mischievous balls of fluffy energy.

But then, in most city families, there comes a day when Mother finally says, very firmly, “Those little beasts have to go!” Sometimes a sign goes up on the front lawn— “FREE KITTENS.” Sometimes Mother says, “Why don’t you bring Billy Foster over after school to see the kittens?” She knows it won’t take much to have Billy begging, “Please, Mom! Puleeeeez, can’t I have the little black one with white paws? I’ll take care of it, Mom, I promise!”

Kevin’s mother was at her wits’ end with the latest litter of Blackie’s kittens. They got into her knitting, they tried to climb up the living room curtains, they chased each other up and down the furniture, and tormented Trixie, the dog, every time she tried to take a quiet nap. Finally Mother said it: “Those little beasts have to go!”

That afternoon when Kevin came home from school, he burst in the front door shouting, “Good news, Mom! I got rid of one of the kittens!”

“Really?” asked Mother. “How?”

“I traded it to Chris Bell for his valuable white rat!” Kevin beamed.

Mother nearly fainted. The idea of a large white rat being added to the family was the last thing she wanted.

“But, Mom, he’s had all his shots and he’s very tame!”

What could she do? The trade had been approved by Chris’s mother, and Kevin stood there with his new pet in his hands.

Kevin’s white rat lived in a cage in the cellar. He seemed to get loose at very bad times. Mother would be carrying a load of clean clothes up from the laundry room when she would suddenly feel the rat’s tail as it scampered over her foot. It almost made her drop the clothes from fright! Sometimes it startled her by popping up from under the laundry tubs. Mother even tried to be friendly to the rat, but I’m afraid it never had the warm spot in her heart that it had in Kevin’s.

One day the poor rat met its end—in the paws and teeth of the mother cat. Kevin was terribly sad, but Mother and Kevin’s sisters secretly were glad.

I can’t help but think of how eagerly Kevin announced his “good news.” Boys and girls, do you know about the greatest news there is—God’s good news? The word “gospel” means “good news.” We were all lost and ruined sinners on our way to a lost eternity in hell—without God and without hope. But God sent His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus, to die on the cross of Calvary and take the punishment for all who would believe in Him. He suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, to bring us to God. God’s good news is that He is now offering salvation to anyone who will receive the Lord Jesus as their Saviour and Lord. That is really good news—the best ever! Have you received Jesus as your Saviour?

For those of you who have accepted the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, are you eagerly passing on the “good news"? “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” Romans 1:16.

ML-03/25/1984

The Lost Toads

One day last summer as I was on my way outside to mow the lawn, my wife asked me to first try to rescue some toads that had jumped down into one of our basement window wells. She had already tried to lift them out, but her arms were not long enough. She did not want to leave them there, trapped and helpless, because they would soon die. Since my arms were longer, she thought maybe I could lift them out of the well. So I leaned over the edge and tried, but the window well was too deep for me also. I could not quite reach to the bottom where they sat.

I had another idea: if I put one foot down into the well, perhaps I could then lean down in and reach the toads that I hoped to rescue. And sure enough, it worked! I was able to lift each of them out and carry them over to where there was some water on the other side of our yard. Down in the well it was dry. The only food they could possibly get was whatever insects might happen to fly close enough to their hungry tongues. Now they were free and could jump wherever they wanted to find food, and they had plenty of water, too.

As soon as I was done lifting each of them to safety, I went on with my mowing job. As I mowed I thought about those toads and how they could be a picture to us of many boys and girls in this world today. That window well is like this world with all of its sin that is in each of our hearts. Boys and girls (and men and women, too) are lost in sin. Our toads, if left to themselves, would never have gotten out of that pit. They would have died right there sooner or later. So we also face death as sinners and, worse still, certain punishment in hell after death, if we are not rescued out of that awful pit of sin.

Thanks be to God, He has provided a way of escape—you do not need to die in your sins. The Lord Jesus, God’s Son, died on the cross and suffered there God’s punishment against sin. He came all the way down from heaven to this earth to provide the way for us to be rescued from everlasting punishment in hell for our sins. If I believe in Him, that He died there for me, bearing my sins, the Bible assures me that I am saved from hell and saved to spend eternity with the Lord Jesus in heaven. You know, the world and all its attractions cannot give people happiness that will last, but once we are saved He gives us happiness and joy and peace in our hearts that nothing in this world can ever take away from us.

Going back to my toad story again, several of them were jumping around in the pit when I tried to rescue them. In fact, they would hardly let me pick them up. When I finally did catch them they squirmed in my hands until I let them go again. They made me think of some boys and girls who are quite satisfied in this world and who don’t even want to be reminded or warned of the punishment that they must face for their sins. It makes them squirm to get away.

Another of the toads seemed to have no energy left. He didn’t put up a fight when I tried to lift him out of the pit. But when he got over by the water, he seemed very glad to be free. He is like a boy or girl who is sorry for his or her sins and who is ready to let the Lord Jesus save him or her.

The Lord Jesus is ready and waiting to save you. Have you confessed to Him that you are a sinner and asked Him to save you? Which of those toads are you like? Are you still squirming away from Him and the salvation that He wants to give you from the awful pit of hell? Or are you going to call on Him right this moment to save you? “Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” Psalms 50:15. “He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.” Psalms 40:2.

ML-03/25/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Lowly Earthworm

“They shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the Lord our God.” Micah 7:17.

This verse from the Bible speaks of a time when the enemies of the Lord will try to hide from His judgment. No words describe them better than “like worms of the earth.”

Although they are a very important part of God’s creation, many people think earthworms are good only for fish bait, which is why they are also known as angleworms. But they are much more important than this, as we shall see. Hidden in the ground there may be 50,000 or more of them in an acre of rich, moist soil. They come to the surface only when it’s moist to pick up old leaves, blades of grass, etc., rolling them tightly and taking them down their tunnels for future food.

Let’s take a close look at one. If healthy it will be plump and pink-red in color. Its body, tapered at both ends, will be slightly moist, and it may have a collar around it in which eggs are carried before slipping off to hatch underground. If we could see inside this worm with a microscope we would discover as many as ten hearts. Perhaps the reason for so many is this—if a worm is cut in two, each piece will soon form a whole new worm. We also would find its tiny mouth and the 120 segments of its body with about 1000 little bristles underneath, that act like the scales of a snake, enabling it to move through the soil. We would see that it has no eyes, ears or nose, not needing these because it is guided by vibrations and breathes through its skin. What an amazing little creature God has made and cares for!

In what way are they an important part of God’s creation? Principally because they are better tillers of the soil than any plow or piece of equipment used by man. Wriggling through the ground, their soft snouts push the soil into their mouths. As this soil passes through their bodies little bits of food are retained. The rest is carried to the surface and deposited in little “castings” (now soft and fertile soil) which fertilize the land. Not only do they serve this important purpose, but their activities loosen the ground, allowing water to penetrate and helping the roots of trees and vegetation to find nourishment below the surface. Don’t you agree these things make the earthworm an indispensable gardener and friend to mankind? Some scientists, calling it “nature’s plowman,” insist it is the world’s most valuable and beneficial creature, which could be true.

Does God have a lesson for us in this obscure and despised creature? Yes, the Bible tells us, “base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen... that no flesh should glory in His presence.” 1 Corinthians 1:28,29. We earn from this Bible verse that we do not come to God through a brilliant intellect and that the most simple person may by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour prove to be wiser than one whom the world considers to be its most outstanding person. Are you one who trusts in Him through this simple but precious faith?

ML-03/25/1984

A Night Ride

Memory Verse: “I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12

It was a beautiful night. A cold biting wind rushed past our faces. Even with goggles on, we felt the cold. The moon broke through the cloud cover and bathed the snowscape with bright moonlight. I held on tightly to Bill as we roared across Phantom Lake. His brand new snowmobile seemed to be flying, we were going so fast.

Phantom Lake was lovely in moonlight. Its light blanket of white snow was broken only by scattered patches of blue-black ice. I wondered about those ice patches. Why was it that most of this late-winter ice was covered with several inches of snow, but a few patches were bare? The thought quickly passed. The recent cold snap surely had thickened the ice after the warmer weather. Besides, there were other snowmobile tracks crossing these snowless patches. Obviously there was no problem.

Bill had just traded his old snowmobile in for this new one. He had asked me to go with him to try it out. He was an experienced snowmobiler, but it was my first ride on one. I had always preferred the warmth of the house to a cold ride on a snowmobile.

“Would you like to drive?” Bill asked.

“I’d love to,” I answered, “but I’m a rookie at this, and your snowmobile is barely off the showroom floor.”

“Don’t worry about it,” he answered, “it’s easy.” He gave me some instructions on the basics of driving.

Operating a snowmobile couldn’t be easier, I discovered. The surge of power as I squeezed the throttle was both a shock and a delight. We skimmed along a well-worn trail in the middle of the lake, flashing past a cluster of empty ice-fishing shanties.

Far in the distance we saw the lights of the only other snowmobile leave the lake and head inland. The lake was ours, to explore and do with as we wanted. We were alone in a wintry wonderland.

There are many people today who have this same attitude about their life—it’s theirs, to do with as they want. The Bible tells us something about these people in Proverbs 12:15: “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes.” And in Proverbs 14:12 God says, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

If you have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you are on that way which ends in death and punishment in hell that will never end. Any other way you may try, hoping to reach heaven eventually, will have this same final result —hell. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6.

The Lord Jesus has opened the way into heaven through His death on the cross. All who accept His shed blood as the remedy for their sins have the way opened to them for an everlasting life with God in heaven. Accepting His way is the only way; your own way will not get you there.

For ten minutes Bill and I raced up and down Phantom Lake. “I’m getting cold,” I hollered back to him. “Let’s head back home.” I slowed down and began an easy U-turn. The snowmobile left the snowy track and edged onto a dark, bare patch of ice as I made the loop.

We had almost completed the turn when I heard a peculiar sound, almost like ice cracking. I thought it must be my imagination.

But it wasn’t! Both Bill and I sensed it at the same time. The snowmobile had broken through the ice. This had to be a bad dream! No way could this be happening to us!

But there we were, still on the seat with the snowmobile sinking slowly, nose first into the icy cold water. The black ice on the bare spot, we discovered too late, meant a weak point where the ice was only an inch or two thick. The warm weather together with a natural spring feeding into the lake at that point kept thick ice from forming.

We climbed off the sinking, bubbling snowmobile and started to tread water. The shock of the freezing water was stunning. We gasped for breath and struggled in the water. This was more than a mild inconvenience. We had a problem!

As sinners God has to bring us to a realization that we have a problem. Sin is often like an undetected disease. Until a doctor tells us that we have the disease and we believe what he says, we will not get the treatment that is required.

We each must accept God’s verdict concerning our sins. He says, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. Then in John 3:36 we find His cure for our sin: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.” Jesus Christ is the answer for your sin problem. Won’t you accept Him right now?

I reached over to try to stop the snowmobile from sinking further, but quickly realized my foolishness. It was much too heavy. Seconds later, we lost sight of the $3,000 machine as it settled to the bottom of the lake.

I knew Phantom Lake was a shallow fishing lake. But at that point it did not matter whether we were in 6 or 60 feet of water. Our feet were not touching bottom, and we had to keep from slipping under the ice. If we did, we might not find the open spot again.

I knew that we would only last about five minutes in that icy water. I tried to lunge up on the edge of the ice. But the ice wanted no part of my 185 pounds. It broke off, plunging me back into the freezing water.

Struggling against the weight of my now soggy snowmobile clothing, I swam with difficulty to the far side of the hole. The ice there was snow covered which meant it was thicker. Still, there was nothing to grab hold of to pull myself out. I got an elbow out over the edge, but I could not swing my leg out because of the water-sogged clothes.

Suddenly I felt a boost and I was up on the ice fast. Although weighing only 120 pounds, Bill was very strong. He had gone under water behind me until his feet touched bottom. Then pushing off with his legs from the bottom, he lifted me right up onto the ice. Without that push I could not have made it.

Lying down on the edge to spread my weight over a large area to keep from breaking through again, I reached for Bill. Gradually I worked backward, pulling him out onto strong ice.

What a relief it was when we were both out. It seemed like an eternity, but we were in the water probably no more than two or three minutes.

We walked the 100 yards to shore and then on to Bill’s house. Within minutes of reaching it we were wrapped in blankets and preparing for a steaming hot bath. We had survived!

These two men survived this experience by their own strength, ability and quick thinking. But strength, ability or quick thinking is not the solution to your sin problem. Christ and His work on the cross is the only answer for this problem, and the solution has been completed. Won’t you accept it now and be saved?

“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2.

ML-04/01/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: Moths - Good and Bad

“For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool.” Isaiah 51:8.

Moths can be very destructive while in the caterpillar (larva) stage. Some species eat holes in clothes, fur and other things, while others damage food crops and flower gardens. However, a fully developed moth no longer harms things; some actually are helpful. A few of them never eat at all, and others have new appetites, wanting only the nectar from flowers. Flitting from one flower to another to gather nectar, they carry pollen to help pollenize flowers. Also, lovely silk thread comes from the cocoon of the silkworm moth in the Orient.

How can we tell if the pretty creatures we see are moths or butterflies? For one thing, moths usually have thicker bodies and smaller wings than butterflies. Moths fly at night—butterflies in the daytime. When resting, butterflies bring their wings together straight up from their bodies, but moths hold theirs out flat, like an airplane, or tight against their bodies.

The birth and development of moths follows the exact pattern established by the Creator when He first added them to the interesting things of His creation. There has been no change since that day, and His instruction that each generation must reproduce “after his kind” has always been followed. In the springtime they hatch as caterpillars from eggs deposited on trees, rocks, fence posts, etc. They do not remain as caterpillars very long.

Soon they spin a cocoon... inside curled leaves, under the bark of a tree, in the dark corner of a shed, or sometimes in the ground. One of the wonders of God’s creation is the way a caterpillar changes inside its cocoon. In a few weeks’ time it has fully developed into a moth, complete with markings and is able to fly when it escapes from its prison.

There are innumerable varieties of these interesting insects. The largest is called the atlas of India which measures as much as a foot across—from one wingtip to the other. In America the largest is the royal moth which in the beginning is a jet-black caterpillar, eating pine and hemlock needles. It eventually comes from its cocoon as a pretty six or seven-inch moth. A few of the others are the goat moth, the death’s head, the tiger, the cabbage, one called puss moth, the swallowtail and a peacock. Perhaps you can think of others.

Even though moths are interesting, the caterpillar’s bad habits cannot be overlooked. These habits remind us of Satan who brings evil thoughts and acts into people’s lives before they are aware of the danger. That is why the Bible urges us to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.” Matthew 6:20. Is that where your treasures are?

If we have faith in the Lord Jesus and really desire to please Him, we need not listen to Satan. It is helpful to remember a good verse to add to our prayers: “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.” Psalms 19:14.

ML-04/01/1984

The Tiger and the Mud

Memory Verse: “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.” Psalm 34:7

Palam was a young Indian boy who lived with his father and mother in the Nilgiri hills in South India. That area of India is very poor. The people who live there have none of the modern, helpful things we have, such as cars, tractors and electricity. These poor people work in their fields with oxen and simple tools. If they need something they have to walk to get it.

One morning Palam’s mother called to him and said, “Your father is sick with a high fever. Will you go to the missionary hospital and get some medicine for him?”

Palam did not mind doing this even though the hospital was over 15 miles away. His mother told him to stay overnight at his great aunt’s house, which was near the hospital, and return home the next day.

“Be careful,” whispered Palam’s mother as she said good-bye.

“I have not heard of any tigers in that area, but we know there could be a stray one,” she warned.

Palam left at dawn the next morning and arrived safely at his aunt’s house late in the afternoon. They both walked to the hospital where Palam told the missionary doctor about his father.

The doctor listened carefully and then gave Palam a bottle with pills in it. “Tell your father to take these pills every day for ten days,” he instructed. Then he gave Palam a little book, the gospel of John, written in the language that Palam could read. “Read this for yourself and to your mother and father,” the missionary told him. “It is good medicine for the ‘sickness of sin’ which each of us has.”

Palam did not really understand all the doctor had said to him, but he was glad to have the book and thankful to get the pills for his father. He and his aunt returned to her house for the night.

After they had eaten some supper Palam and his aunt sat and talked. She seemed so happy and she told Palam what had made her so happy.

“The book that the doctor gave you is the secret,” she said. “He gave me one a few months ago, and in it I have found the wonderful Saviour God.”

Palam loved his aunt, so he listened carefully to all she told him about her Saviour God, Jesus. As he lay in bed that night thinking about all the things his aunt had told him he thought, “How strange, yet how wonderful.”

Early the next morning Palam was ready to return home. His aunt hugged him and said, “The good Lord go with you and protect you. If you have trouble or danger pray to the Lord Jesus. He loves you and will hear your cry.”

Many thoughts flooded Palam’s mind as he walked home. All the things his aunt had told him, the special book, the wonderful words in it, and the missionary doctor’s instructions had each made a deep impression on Palam.

About half way home Palam became aware of a noise behind him. Turning, he saw a tiger following him! He tried to run away, but had gone only a few steps when to his horror the tiger knocked him down. Seizing Palam by the upper arm and shoulder, the tiger dragged him through the muddy grass beside a swamp.

Poor Palam! He thought he was going to be killed. The tiger’s sharp teeth tore at his arm and shoulder. Suddenly the words of his aunt flashed into his mind, and he cried, “Lord Jesus, save me!”

In a moment Palam had an idea as the tiger was dragging him through the mud. Using his free arm and hand, he scooped up a handful of the slimy mud and smeared it across the tiger’s eyes. For a moment or two it was blinded and dropped him.

Quickly Palam scrambled to his feet and although his arm was injured and bleeding, he climbed a nearby tree. Then he climbed out onto a branch that hung over the swamp. By this time the tiger was after him again even though still partly blinded by the mud in its eyes. It made a great leap into the air, trying to reach Palam, but misjudged the distance and landed right in a deep part of the swamp and was stuck. As the tiger struggled to get out, Palam climbed back down the tree and ran as fast as he could down the trail.

He thanked the Lord Jesus for rescuing him from the tiger. Then with the medicine and the book still tied around his waist he hurried home, arriving terribly weakened from the pain and loss of blood.

As his mother took care of his wounds and gashes, Palam told her everything that had happened. He told her what “auntie” had said and the prayer that he had made to Jesus. “It was Jesus that rescued me, I know it!” he told his mother.

Can you truthfully say what Palam said, “Jesus rescued me, and I know it"? Do you know the Lord Jesus as your Saviour? He is waiting to save you. He loves you and died on the cross to wash away your sins. Call on Him now before it is too late. Accept Him as your own Saviour right now.

“Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13.

“The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.” Psalms 34:7.

ML-04/08/1984

Pam's Eye Trouble

Seven-year-old Pam was having eye problems, so one afternoon her mother took her to the eye doctor’s office for an examination. The doctor sat Pam in a chair and covered her left eye. He asked her if she could read the bottom line of the eye chart on the wall.

“No,” said Pam very firmly.

“How about the next to the bottom line, Pam; can you read that?” asked the doctor.

Again she answered, “No.” “What about the line above that?”

Now Pam’s mother and the doctor began to worry, for Pam sadly shook her head to indicate she could not even read that line.

“Are you sure, Pam, that you can’t see the letters on that line?”

“Sure I can see them,” said Pam, “but I can’t read them.”

At last the mystery was solved. Pam saw the letters, but she could not read them because they did not spell out a word she recognized. Pam’s mother and the doctor together breathed sighs of relief. Now the doctor could find out what was really wrong with Pam’s vision, and he soon prescribed glasses to help her see better.

Do you have an eye problem? All of us do when it comes to seeing ourselves the way God sees us. We cannot possibly “see” how bad we really are. Yet we actually do not need to “see” that with our eyes, but simply need to understand that we are sinners in God’s sight.

Once we admit that we are guilty of being a sinner, there is the next line to read on God’s “chart": God hates sin and He cannot have it in His presence. We need to “see” this clearly or we will struggle on without getting anywhere. Pam struggled with the letters because she was trying to form words with them. You will struggle on with your sins if you think you have only a few small ones that do not amount to much.

The fact is that a letter is a letter and a sin is a sin. Each one stands alone. And it only takes one sin, great or small, to keep you out of heaven; the total number does not matter.

But just as the doctor had the only remedy for Pam’s eye problem, God is the only One who has the remedy for your sin problem. His Son, the Lord Jesus, was punished on the cross for the sins of all who would accept Him as their Saviour. Believing this provides an instant cure that lasts forever. No further treatment is necessary. The Bible says, “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7. Do you believe it?

ML-04/08/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: The World's Laziest Animal

“He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.” Proverbs 18:9.

Sloths, which live in the tropics of Central and South America, are among the strangest of all animals. A full-grown one is about two feet long, having a short, round head and small, dull eyes. Its face is bare, its ears hardly visible, and its neck—the same diameter as its head —just merges into its body without any real shape of its own. Some species can turn their heads almost completely around without moving their bodies, which suits them just fine, because then they don’t have to exert themselves as much. They are so lazy that sometimes they stay in the same spot all day!

No wonder the Bible doesn’t have anything good to say about them. In fact, as in our opening verse, the Bible speaks in many places of how shameful it is for people to be like these lazy creatures. One verse tells us “Be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Hebrews 6:12. Perhaps the Creator allowed the sloth to have its bad habits to give us an example of what is displeasing to Him. Instead of slothfulness, we are instructed, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might [with all your energy].” Ecclesiastes 9:10. The Bible further says, “Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.” Proverbs 19:15.

The sloth lives among the trees of the tropics where it hangs upside down most of the time with three sharp claws on each long leg gripping a leafy limb. There it is quite content to spend the day while it slowly munches on leaves, shoots or fruit within its reach. Because it seldom moves, it is well hidden from its enemies, since it looks like a bundle of leaves caught on a fork of the tree. It sleeps this way, too.

Only about once a week does it get any exercise. Then it climbs slowly down the tree trunk to the ground where it moves clumsily about, because its long, curved claws interfere with walking. It doesn’t stay down very long and soon climbs back to its lazy way of life.

Unlike most other animals, the sloth never bathes and doesn’t bother to groom itself. As a result its fur becomes the home of thousands of bugs, ticks, and moths and it even has mossy-like, tiny green plants growing on its back. All of this is a picture to us of how bad habits and laziness are used by Satan to make the ugly stains of sin that leave their mark on many people. But, thank the Lord, all who come to the Lord Jesus Christ can be washed from their sins. The Psalmist prayed, “Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” Psalms 51:7. In 1 John we read the wonderful message; “The blood of Jesus Christ [God’s] Son cleanseth us from all sin,” and “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (ch. 1, verses 7 and 9).

Altogether, the sloth is a sad example of the result of laziness. How much better it is to please the Lord by obeying His request: “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” Colossians 3:23.

ML-04/08/1984

Alone on an Island

Memory Verse: “He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.” Psalm 40:2

Many years ago a young man lived all alone on an island in the Pacific Ocean... because he chose to. It was his decision. But let’s go back to the beginning of the story.

The man’s name was Alex Selkirk. He was born and raised in a small town in Scotland. He had always been a rebellious boy. When he reached his teens the problem he had been to his parents and teachers only got worse. Now this behavior got him in trouble not only at home and school, but also with the town police. Between the ages of 14 and 18 he ran away from home twice. Other times his conduct landed him in jail.

The last time he ran away he went to a large town that was a seaport. Dreaming of adventures in far away countries, Alex got a job on a sailing ship that was ready to leave the port. Hover, he soon found out that things on board ship were no different than on land. Again it was his conduct which got him in trouble. He was always quarreling and fighting with the other members of the crew.

One day the ship was anchored in a bay of a small island so the crew could make minor repairs on it. During this time Alex got in an argument with the captain. In anger Alex demanded, “Put me off this ship! I would rather stay alone on this island than work on your ship!”

The Bible tells us that people who do things when they are angry are often sorry later: “Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.” Ecclesiastes 7:9. (Alex was going to regret his decision!)

“Agreed!” shouted the captain. “Get your gear and off the ship with you!”

Alex got his sea chest that held his clothes and tools, and without any more discussion he was rowed ashore. Lifting his gear out of the small boat, he stood on the shore unafraid as the small boat returned to the ship.

Alex stood on the shore watching them, still angry at the captain. Suddenly his feelings changed—his anger was gone and now he was afraid as he thought about what an awful choice he had made! He realized he would have to stay alone on the island where there was no shelter, no food, no other people, and possibly wild animals. He might never have another chance to leave or see another person.

Alex began waving his hands and shouting, “Come back! Come back!” But they did not turn back. He thought he heard the captain laugh. The sailors climbed back into the ship, hoisted up the small boat, and soon the ship sailed out of sight.

Alone now, Alex became angry again, but this time it was in fear. He was angry with himself, with the captain, with everything.

He soon realized it was going to take hard work to survive. He found a cave in the rocks and built a fire outside to keep wild animals away. He found dried seaweed for a bed and set his sea chest across the narrow entrance of the cave. Then he rolled himself in his blanket and went to sleep.

Many days passed. Still angry and lonely he survived on fish and fruit. He still blamed the captain for all his problems. Every day he watched for a passing ship, hoping he could signal it to come rescue him.

After many days of feeling sorry for himself, Alex found a small Bible in his chest. Since he had never owned one he did not know how it had gotten there. Perhaps one of the other sailors on the ship had placed it there. Hungry for something to read he took the Bible along to his lookout place on the rocks. When he opened it he read this verse: “They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.” Psalms 107:4.

Alex thought this verse described himself, lonely and in trouble. He read on: “Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses. And He led them forth by the right way.” 10:6,7.

As Alex read of the Lord’s care and that “His mercy endureth forever,” he knew that God’s mercy had been over him. For the first time he realized that his own will and behavior had been the real cause of all his troubles.

Alex knew that God sent His Son to earth to suffer for man’s sins, bu’ he had never thought that he needed to be forgiven. For the first time he felt ashamed of his life. He knelt down on his lookout rock and confessed to God how wrong he had been, and he accepted Christ as his Saviour and Friend.

After that Alex did not feel so alone since he knew the Lord was with him. He began to search the island and found much to help and interest him. The trees and plants were pretty and he found fruit and nuts that he had not seen before. He built a small hut with shelves and benches in it where he could sleep and be dry when it rained. He tamed a wild goat and some rabbits which were company for him. Now even the roaring of the seals, which he had thought sounded so terrible, sounded friendly to him.

Each day Alex read his Bible and found new things to enjoy. He cut a notch in a tree each day to keep track of time. He even began remembering some of the hymns he had known as a boy. So the days passed pleasantly, and he even became fond of the quiet.

At last one day Alex saw a ship in the distance. He built a big fire on the sand to attract attention and waved a white cloth tied on a pole. It was seen by the ship’s crew, and a boat was sent to shore. With only the few things that he could carry, Alex was rescued from the island which had been his home for over four years.

Some months later Alex finally got back to Scotland. He was a different person from the one who had left. He had learned much about himself, and the love and mercy of God had given him a new life.

Without Christ each of us is on a course that is leading to everlasting punishment in hell because of our sins. Alex Selkirk was stopped in his sinful course, and the quiet time alone with God’s Word, the Bible, resulted in his salvation. Have you stopped to listen to God’s Word? He loves you and wants you to know Him and be saved. The Lord Jesus Christ was punished on the cross by God for the sins of all who would believe and accept Him as their Saviour.

Some people are so angry with everything in life that they blame God and ignore His love. Only by spending time alone reading the Bible can we see His wonderful love. Then accepting Him as our Saviour, we can go on with a changed life that will be pleasing to Him.

“Be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will we not fear.” Psalms 46:1,2.

Editor’s note: This true experience in the eighteenth century inspired adventure stories that some of you may have read in school.

ML-04/15/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: Birds on Schedule

“Yea, the sparrow hath found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young.” Psalms 84:3.

It’s springtime and here come those pretty, acrobatic cliff swallows again, dressed in feathers of brown, red, yellow and white. Through the winter they have been in South America, but now seem happy to return to many parts of North America for nest building, raising of young, and an active life in the northern climate.

Cliff swallows look like their cousins, the barn swallows, but have a flat tail instead of a forked one. Their legs are short and not very strong, but they hardly need them for anything but perching, since they catch nearly all their food while flying. The reliability of their annual return on certain calendar days to a former locality is a clue to farmers when to plant some crops. They know swallows are among their best friends because they help destroy untold numbers of mosquitoes and harmful insects that spoil those crops. Their punctuality also prompts some “prophets” to announce their arrival in advance. Some people, not realizing that a God-given instinct brings them back so regularly, praise these “prophets” for their ability to foretell the future!

Cliff swallows like to live near humans, either on nearby cliffs, under bridges, or under the eaves of houses and barns. Their nests are most interesting. Muddy clay (sometimes provided by farmers) is the building material mixed with gluey saliva and straw. A beak-full at a time is daubed on the surface they have chosen. Then one mouthful after another being added, the jar-shaped nest soon extends to five or six inches, the end tapered having an open entrance. The inside is lined with feathers and grass, providing a comfortable and safe place for laying a half-dozen eggs and raising the chicks.

These birds are sociable. Usually a large number of nests are grouped together, actually touching one another. Watching a swallow fly in and out so swiftly, it is amazing how it avoids getting into a neighbor’s nest, but no mistakes of this kind are made. The Lord God who first placed them on the earth has given them remarkable instincts and abilities in their swift flight patterns.

The mouth of the cliff swallow is an example of how every bird in God’s creation is well equipped for its manner of life. It has been given a short, broad bill which opens wide to scoop up insects and to dig and carry large gobs of mud for nest building. Its wings show the Creator’s wisdom, too. They are long and flexible and enable the swallow to make its beautiful diving-and-turning flight as it pursues its food.

But God has not only shown His care over animals and birds. In addition to His care and provisions for wildlife, He extends His love to all mankind. This was most wondrously shown when He gave His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die on Calvary’s cross to provide forgiveness of sins to all who confess Him as Saviour. Have you thanked Him for His love to you?

ML-04/15/1984

The White Cliffs of Dover

Memory Verse: “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” 1 Peter 2:24

Did you ever hear of the white cliffs of Dover? Dover is on the southeast coast of England, and its white cliffs are a beautiful sight as the ferryboat from France gets close to the English shore. The wars of the English channel can be quite rough, and when they are, crossing the channel at the Strait of Dover (or Pas de Calais, if you live in France) can make even a seasoned sailor turn green and seasick. At times like that the white cliffs of Dover are not only beautiful, they are a most welcome sight.

Some years ago a family arrived in Dover to cross the channel on the ferryboat. The children got out of the VW van and explored the area while the father and mother asked the attendant about the next crossing. While the attendant was explaining that the next ferry would not leave for a number of hours, he suddenly called the parents’ attention to a spot above them on the white cliffs where two of their sons were climbing rapidly. He explained to the parents that the cliffs are quite unsafe to climb, for they are made of chalk which can easily crumble and break away.

The parents shouted for Fritz and Ken to come down as quickly and carefully as possible, and they hardly dared breathe until the boys were safely at the bottom again. They thanked the Lord when the boys were back safely. Often people try to climb the cliffs and have to be rescued when the cliffs begin to crumble and they are afraid to go on.

This reminds me of how people sometimes trust in things that seem nice and beautiful to them. Instead, these things are like the white cliffs which crumble under them and send them plunging into a lost eternity in hell. Religions with their beautiful buildings and impressive ceremonies, but without Christ, often are attractive to boys and girls. They may even have feelings of awe and excitement as they go through the rituals. But salvation is not in such things. It can only be found in the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ which was shed for sinners on the cross of Calvary.

There is only one way to God; there is only one truth. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6.

Are you trusting in the crumbling cliffs of religion and ritual, or in the Rock of Ages, the Lord Jesus Christ? Receive Him now as your Lord and Saviour. Then you will be able to sing:

“My faith has found a resting place,

Not in device nor creed;

I trust the Ever-living One,

His wounds for me shall plead.

I need no other argument,

I need no other plea,

It is enough that Jesus died,

And that He died for me.”

ML-04/22/1984

His Voice

“Won’t they be surprised,” Dave thought as he climbed out of the taxi. He had been delayed on his business trip, so he was spending the night in the same city where his sister and her family lived. Dave knew that he was always welcome at his sister’s house, so he decided to surprise her. He got a taxi at the airport and was now walking up to her house. “Wait until Amy sees me,” Dave thought to himself. “I can just see the surprise on her face.” Amy was ten years old, and Uncle David always had been her favorite uncle. Until his company had transferred him to another city, Amy had “grown up” with her Uncle David.

Standing at the front door, he rang the bell. He waited, but there was no answer. He rang again, but still there was no answer. “That’s strange,” he thought. “It looks like somebody is home with all those lights on.” He rang the bell again.

At last a quiet, frightened little voice called out from behind the locked door, “Who’s there?”

He recognized Amy’s voice. “It’s me,” answered Dave.

At once there was a happy squeal and the door was thrown open. There was no hesitation as Amy jumped up and hugged her uncle, nearly knocking him over.

After closing the door she explained to him what had happened. Her mother, father and sisters had gone shopping. She had homework so she had stayed at home. Mother had told her to keep the door locked and not to unlock it unless she knew who it was. She was afraid when the bell first rang because they were not expecting anyone. But she was not afraid after she recognized Uncle David’s voice even though he had not mentioned his name.

Doesn’t this remind us of the verse in the Bible, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” John 10:27. The Lord Jesus has told us that He is the Good Shepherd that gave His life for the sheep. Those who have accepted Him as their Saviour are His sheep. We recognize His voice and are not afraid to follow Him because we know His voice.

Amy opened the door quickly when she recognized Uncle David’s voice. She was no longer afraid.

Have you turned to the Lord Jesus? Do you know His voice? He wants to be your Saviour. He loves you and is patiently waiting right now for you to “open the door.”

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20.

ML-04/22/1984

What Is His Name?

He was like all of us.

He was like some of us.

He was like none of us.

Who are we talking about? He is a man we read about in the New Testament. Most of you have heard about him before. There is a Sunday school song children enjoy singing that was written about him.

This man was a tax collector for the Romans. Part of the riddle says that he was like none of us. I’m sure there is no one reading this who is a tax collector for the Roman government.

The riddle also says he was like some of us—because of his size—he was short.

He was like all of us—because he was a sinner.

Now, what was his name? If you said Zacchaeus, you are absolutely right!

How kind the Lord Jesus was to this little man. He knew what had happened. He had seen Zacchaeus running along the road and climbing up into the tree.

Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus. That was good. But even better, the Lord Jesus saw Zacchaeus and wanted to save him. So when the crowd reached the spot where the little man had climbed up into the tree, he heard the Lord say, “Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to-day I must abide at thy house.” Luke 19:5.

We read that he did just what the Lord asked him to do and received the Lord happily. The Lord had reached his heart and conscience.

Has the Lord Jesus called your name? He is calling you now because he wants you to be saved. Be like Zacchaeus and answer immediately and accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour. Then the Lord can say to you as He did to Zacchaeus, “This day is salvation come to this house.... For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:9,10.

ML-04/22/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: "Spiky Pig" - The Porcupine

“Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?” Job 35:11.

A three-foot-long porcupine suddenly appears in a quiet wooded area, moving noisily through dry leaves and underbrush, apparently unconcerned about the racket it is making. It has little to worry about, being safer from attack than just about any other animal and not even needing to run from a bear or a mountain lion.

Why does it feel so bold? Because it is covered from the top of its head to the end of its eight-inch tail with thousands of needle-pointed quills —some are big and hollow, some are smaller—that often rattle as it walks.

Many a dog has learned it is unwise to bother a porcupine. If a porcupine senses danger it turns its back, flares its quills and greets the attacker with a hard slap of its tail, leaving a number of barbed quills in the attacker’s face and body. These quills can only be pulled out from dogs or cats by people. When an animal tries to remove them with its paws, they go in deeper and it usually means eventual death, especially when they are in the face or mouth. Incidentally, these quills are not “thrown” as some people think.

Their homes are often in a hollow log or a burrow under rocks where they are snug and warm in cold weather and where their little ones are born. The babies arrive with a full supply of quills which are soft and flexible, but soon harden. The mother raises them with no help from the father. Strangely, she can push these little ones or help them climb a tree without herself getting stuck by their quills.

Their main food is the tender tissue under the bark of trees. They may sit in the fork of a tree all day or out on the branches to enjoy buds, leaves and tender twigs. They also like various plants, roots, fruits and berries. Always hungry for salt, they break into cabins, eating all the butter they can find and any other salty food. They become troublesome by gnawing paddles, ax handles, leather, or anything stained with perspiration, because these have a salty flavor.

These odd animals are another example of the Creator’s ways, giving them a quiet and peaceful life, but with ample means of protection against any who would harm them. In many ways this is an example of His love and care over us as well. The Bible encourages us to “lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” 1 Timothy 2:2. It is good to follow this instruction.

But, instead of wanting to “get even” with those who oppose us, as the porcupine does, we should tell them of God’s love and let them know that God wants them to be saved and come to Him through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Try doing this some time. You may be happily rewarded.

ML-04/22/1984

The Little Gray Dog

Memory Verse: “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.” Romans 4:7

One Saturday morning in December Mrs. Turner looked out the window at the blowing snow and read the thermometer... 10° below zero! It was such a cold morning that she shivered even standing indoors. She noticed a little gray dog sitting in a yard up the street. She felt sorry for it because it looked terribly cold.

About noon as Mrs. Turner was leaving home to run an errand, a neighbor girl, Jill, called to her, “Do you know whose dog this is?” But Mrs. Turner had no idea. Jill was carrying the little dog and said, “His feet look frozen,” but as soon as she set him down he ran away.

Jill could have helped the cold little dog, but for some reason she set him down instead of taking him home. How often we are like that. We know many of our friends are in the cold grip of sin without having the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour. Yet we do not help them; we do not give them the message of God’s love.

Later that afternoon Shelly and Ellen Turner bundled up to walk to the store. What should come scampering over to meet them but that same little gray dog. He seemed friendly, and Ellen had no problem catching him. He seemed glad of the warmth of her arms as she carried him home to their garage. Although the dog was wearing a collar there were no tags on it to tell them to whom he belonged.

Are we like this shivering dog? Do we really belong to Someone—the Lord Jesus Christ and yet no one knows? We are told in Matthew 5:16, "‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Or do we have our light hidden under a bushel as described in Matthew 5:15?

Mrs. Turner came out to the garage to check on the dog. She was glad to see that he was warmer, but the garage was not warm enough for him to stay there until they could find his owner. So Mrs. Turner called the animal control center in their town. Within a few minutes the van pulled into the driveway.

The animal control officer walked around to the back door of the garage. How surprised Mrs. Turner was when the officer greeted the dog with a friendly, “Well hello, George, how are you?” The officer knew George well—he ran away from home often, and the officer was usually called to pick him up. George would have to go to the police station even though the officer knew exactly where he lived. Because George ran away from home so often, breaking the law of no loose dogs, he could not go back home until his owners paid the cost of the tickets that had piled up.

Boys and girls, how many times have you sinned, breaking God’s laws? The Bible tells us “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. We sometimes sing “My sins were high as a mountain,” and that would be a lot of sins. There is no way we can pay for all those sins. We cannot even pay for one of them! However, the Lord Jesus paid the price for all our sins if we will only believe on Him and accept Him as our Saviour. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31. Then we can sing,

Jesus paid it all,

All to Him I owe;

Sin had left a crimson stain,

He washed it white as snow.

How sad it would be if George never got back to his home—if his owners never paid the price of those tickets (and that was the only way George could be free to go home). Have you ever thanked the Lord Jesus Christ that He paid the price for your sins and set you free? “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift [the Lord Jesus Christ].” 2 Corinthians 9:15.

ML-04/29/1984

Spiders

At our house there is almost nothing that is disliked more than a spider. Any size or any shape, all are loudly exclaimed about... and not nicely. It makes no difference that they catch insects and so are good. “The only good spider in this house is a dead one!” has been stated a number of times. And that is how most of them end up... dead.

Spiders do not really bother me, but maybe that is because I do not live in Africa or South America. There you can find really large spiders. There are pictures of spiders that are nearly six inches across! I would not want one like that in my house.

Some of these big spiders are poisonous. Anyone bitten by one of these will die if they cannot reach a doctor or hospital quickly.

There is a story about a missionary in Africa who had an experience with one of these large poisonous spiders. He had walked into his house and there on the floor was one of these big spiders. He went back outside and found a straight stick about six feet long.

Instead of killing the spider with it immediately, he stood about five feet away and began teasing it a little by touching it lightly with the end of his stick.

As he drew the stick back toward his legs, away from the spider, it suddenly jumped right onto the stick. The spider tried to bite the stick, and the missionary could see the poison running down the stick.

He then killed the spider quickly, but realized how foolish he had been to “play” with something so dangerous. The spider had been very accurate in its attack on the stick. If it had decided to attack the missionary’s leg instead, he most certainly would have been bitten!

Perhaps you would know better than to tease a poisonous spider, but are you playing with something that is even more dangerous—SIN? Sin is a deadly enemy—telling a lie, disobeying, or doing something secretly that you know is wrong are Satan’s traps to lead you to an everlasting death. God says, “the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Ezekiel 18:4.

How can we be free from Satan’s power? Escape is only through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ whom God sent into this world to be our Saviour. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31) is God’s way of escape for you. It is “the blood of Jesus Christ His [God’s] Son” that “cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7. We must believe and accept the Lord Jesus as our Saviour to be saved and set free from sin.

ML-04/29/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Lion - King of Beasts - Part 1

“A lioness... brought up one of her whelps: it became a young lion, and it learned to catch the prey.” Ezekiel 19:2, 3.

There are animals which have friendly, harmless and gentle natures, but there are also animals, like the lion, which may be vicious and threatening. Thinking about this, it is well to consider as people which kind of nature we have. The Bible tells us “There are many devices [thoughts] in a man’s heart” (Prov. 19:21), but it encourages us to seek wisdom “That thou mayest walk in the way of good men.” Proverbs 2:20. The Bible calls the devil “a roaring lion” and an enemy of those who would live godly lives. We can only be pleasing to God if His love is in our hearts and our faith is in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is He who gives us a new nature enabling us to please Him.

Lions, which are among the fiercest of animals, live in Africa, southern Asia and India. Six to twenty of them live together in a group called a “pride." When hidden in tall grass or rocks, they are hard to spot. Hunters have sometimes almost walked into such a group before seeing them. Like a pussycat snoozing on a carpet, they are naturally lazy and do not like to exert themselves. Perhaps this helps them live to the ripe age of 18 to 20 years. Do you think God cares about them? Yes, He certainly does. He cares for all His creation. The opening Bible verse shows that He has taught even lions to care for their young.

A lioness, leaving the pride for a while, may have two, three or four cubs (whelps) each year. The cubs weigh only a pound at birth, and the mother nurses and trains them for about three months before returning to the pride. Then she and other mothers take turns baby-sitting for each other. If the young do not do as their mother wants, they often will get picked up by the loose skin at the back of their necks. Or sometimes she will put the baby’s whole head in her mouth, and her big, sharp teeth miraculously do not harm it.

At five or six months they accompany their parents to a “kill” and learn to eat flesh. Soon the mother teaches them to stalk and capture their own prey. Female cubs stay with the pride, but when a male is four years old it is driven out to join other outcasts who wander and hunt together. A year later his mane appears, and finding one or more female companions he will then start his own pride.

A full-grown male, weighing 500 pounds, may stand four feet high and measure eight to ten feet from his nose to the end of his tufted tail. He is a handsome animal dressed in buff-yellow with a shaggy mane and penetrating eyes. All these combine to make him look peaceful, but this can be quite deceiving! The female is smaller and has no mane. Strong animals, they can carry in their mouths animals twice their own weight.

The big male is famous for his frightening roar. With his mouth close to the ground, he bellows loudly, terrifying nearby animals so that they leap up and run... but in vain, for the lion soon catches them. How we need God’s warning to us: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8.

(To be continued)

ML-04/29/1984

The Little Grackle

Memory Verse: “We believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved.” Acts 15:11

Where we live there are many blackbirds with shiny feathers that glisten purple in the sunshine. They are called grackles. They are not the nicest birds to have around because they are large, noisy, bold, dirty and they usually come in large flocks. But there is beauty in all of God’s creation, and there is beauty even in a grackle.

A favorite nesting place for a grackle in the summer is in an unused fireplace chimney. Our story begins with a baby grackle in a chimney near an old hospital.

One morning while the hospital’s caretaker was eating breakfast in his cottage on the hospital grounds, he heard a flutter of wings by the fireplace. With a thump a gawky little grackle landed in a heap in the ashes. He was terribly dirty and his eyes were full of soot and ashes. Tom, the caretaker, carefully picked up the dazed baby bird. He cleaned off the soot and ashes and decided to adopt the little bird. He fed it each day with bits of food from his own plate. After a while the bird became tame and would fly around Tom while he worked outside. Tom had fixed up a small, protected area in the toolshed where his pet grackle could sleep or come in out of the rain. But when he was hungry he knew right where to go—to Tom’s cottage.

Tom taught the bird to repeat a couple of words. But the only word that anyone beside Tom could understand was “Jack, Jack.” So the grackle’s name became Jack.

This call, “Jack, Jack,” was what greeted Tom each morning as he walked to the toolshed. Even Tom’s footsteps were soon recognized by Jack.

Jack became very obedient, too. Tom decided that Jack must have learned a lesson from his fall down the chimney. Evidently in his hurry to get out of a crowded nest, Jack had stepped over the edge and had fallen down that long, dark chimney into the fireplace. If he had fallen down any other chimney he probably would have died. It was a good thing Jack fell down the chimney of someone who loved birds. Jack became lost when he fell out of the nest. There was no way that he could save himself. He had to be rescued by Tom.

Doesn’t this remind us a little of what happened to Adam and Eve, our first parents? In the Garden of Eden they were safe and cared for by God. But they disobeyed God and were cast out of the garden—out of God’s presence. As a result of Adam and Eve’s sin, all people (men, women, boys and girls) are sinners and away from God. But God loved Adam and Eve and at once looked for them, calling, “Where art thou?” Genesis 3:9.

God in His love to you is still calling, “Where art thou?” He wants you to see your helpless need, to repent and turn to Him.

God gave His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die for sinners like you and me. He took the punishment that we deserved for our sins so that He might bring us to God. Are you included when God says, “Thou art Mine"? One of the greatest joys of a believer in Jesus is to know that he belongs to God. Wouldn’t you like to know that, too?

One night there was a severe summer thunderstorm. Lightning flashed, thunder clapped, wind whipped the trees, and it rained hard. Tom did not worry about Jack because he was sure Jack was safe in the toolshed.

The next morning as Tom walked to the toolshed there was no call, “Jack, Jack,” to greet him. Opening the door, he found that Jack was gone. The storm must have frightened him. He probably flew out into the night and into the bad storm.

Are you still out in the dark, frightening world that will soon see God’s storm of judgment? Or are you safe in God’s hands because you have accepted His Son, the Lord Jesus, as your Saviour? The choice is yours. This is what the Lord Jesus says about anyone who believes in Him: “I know them... and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.” John 10:27,28.

Tom looked around for Jack and finally found him, but he was almost dead. His feathers were wet and he was very cold. Once more, Jack probably would have died if Tom had not found him. This time Tom decided to keep his pet inside his cottage. He built Jack a big cage where he would be protected and safe.

God will take care of you, too. He will not only save you and care for you, He also has a beautiful home all ready for you in heaven where you will live with Him forever. Won’t you accept Him as your Saviour and let Him share all this with you?

“Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37.

ML-05/06/1984

A Hooked Loon

Two fishermen were in a boat near Thunder Bay, Ontario when they noticed a loon which was acting rather strangely. Loons are water birds, much like ducks, that can swim long distances under water as they catch fish to eat. They usually do not let people get close to them. They dive under water and swim away, coming up far away. The loon that these two fishermen were watching actually came right up beside the boat. It even allowed them to pick it up!

The men lifted the loon into their boat and then they could see that it had a fishing line wrapped around its beak, neck and wings. It also had four hooks and three wire leaders stuck in its body. The men took the loon to shore where they cut off the fishing line and removed the hooks with pliers. While they worked to free the loon, it remained quiet until they finished.

“I really think this bird came to our boat for help,” one of the fishermen remarked. “During that painful process of removing the hooks, it never struggled or made a sound. We even took a picture of it before we let it swim away.”

The loon seemed to know that it could be helped by the men. Boys and girls, and adults, too, have a special Person they can go to for help. They can be healed not just from illness, but be healed from sin. This special Person that can heal is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Great Physician. He is the only One who can take away sin and give peace and comfort. His blood is God’s remedy for sin.

The Lord Jesus said, “They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:31,32.

“The great Physician now is near,

The sympathizing Jesus;

He speaks, the drooping heart to cheer,

O, hear the voice of Jesus.”

ML-05/06/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Lion - King of Beasts - Part 2

“Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions?” Job 38:39.

While male and female lions often hunt together—sometimes as a single pair and other times in groups—it is usually the females that do most of the work. When game is sighted the males hide themselves while the females circle around and drive the prey toward them. With a sudden rushing leap a male then pounces on it, biting its throat. Sometimes he will break the neck of the victim by wrenching its head around with his strong paws. Either way, death is almost instantaneous. In spite of the fact that they must kill to survive, they only kill when hungry—never for sport. Although they are not aware of it, they are dependent on the Creator for their food supply, as the Bible expresses it, “The eyes of all wait upon Thee; and Thou givest them their meat in due season.” Psalms 145:15.

Lions prey on antelopes, zebras, springboks, wildebeests, impalas and some smaller animals. Hover, they do not always do their own hunting. Sometimes they come upon other animals feeding on something they have captured, drive them off and take over the prize. On other occasions they watch the sky for vultures, which quickly drop to the earth when they see a dead animal. Following this lead, the lion finds food without having to work for it.

As strong and fierce as they are, lions are not always successful in their hunting, for swift animals often escape. At times the lion even becomes the victim. Zebras and giraffes, for instance, pursued by a lion will sometimes watch until it is right at their heels, then give a vicious kick in the lion’s face. Many a lion has had its jaw broken that way and been forced to give up the chase. With such an injury it cannot eat and will eventually starve to death.

All lions taking part in a big feed will lie down together and sleep it off in places where they are well hidden. At such times, with their stomachs full, a person or animal could walk by them and not be bothered. Although the big male looks very noble, sorry to say he doesn’t always measure up to it. If food has been scarce or if he is extremely hungry, even if a female has made a catch he will not let her or the cubs eat until he has eaten his fill. This often results in the cubs starving to death.

The lives and habits of these big beasts remind us that this world is full of trouble—the result of sin which is seen on every hand. There are many evil things around us which Satan, the “roaring lion,” uses to capture careless ones, and a place of safety from him is most important. The Bible tells us of a sure place of escape: “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and He shall thrust out the enemy from before thee.” Deuteronomy 33:27. Is He your hiding place?

(to be continued)

ML-05/06/1984

Pray for Little Things

Memory Verse: “Without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6

I am sure many of you are like I am. We ask God for help and guidance for the big things in our lives, but we often forget about the little things. We either think that God does not want to be bothered with little things, or we just forget to ask Him to help us.

However, God is interested in every area of our lives, large or small. He wants us to come to Him about every detail. Let me tell you a story about a young man who asked God to help him get up at the right time the following morning and how his prayer was answered.

A group of boys were on a camping trip. They had already set up camp, eaten supper and were about ready to climb into their sleeping bags for the night.

Larry, the adult leader of the group, was also getting ready for the night. He had taken many groups of Christian young people on camping trips like this. They not only enjoyed God’s beautiful creation, but the time of fellowship together was refreshing for the boys as well as Larry.

Larry had just finished praying and was zipping up his sleeping bag when he heard someone outside his tent.

“Who’s there?” he asked.

“Tony,” came the answer. “I need to talk to you a minute.”

“Sure, Tony. Just a second while I zip open the tent flap and then you crawl in. It’s crowded, but the mosquitoes won’t get us in here.”

After Tony was inside Larry asked him what he wanted to talk about.

“This is my first camping trip,” explained Tony, “and tomorrow morning I’m supposed to get up to make breakfast. My mom says I’m an awfully sound sleeper and I’m afraid I won’t wake up. Will you wake me up?” he asked.

“And what happens if I don’t wake up?” answered Larry with a little smile on his face. “Then what?”

Tony’s face fell. “I never thought about that. Didn’t anyone bring an alarm clock?”

“Who needs an alarm clock in the wilderness?” laughed Larry. “Don’t worry, Tony, I’ll get you up at 5:30.”

With that promise Tony went back to his own tent and was soon sound asleep.

Larry decided not to zip the outside flap closed again because it was such a warm night. “Besides,” he thought, “I can hear better if anything happens during the night.”

As he climbed into his sleeping bag again, Larry started thinking about the following morning. “Now how am I going to wake up?” he wondered. He knew that he was also a sound sleeper. Suppose he did not waken in time to get Tony up for breakfast chores. Tony would be upset, and Larry had promised to get him up.

Larry loved the Lord Jesus and knew the value and blessing of prayer. He believed that nothing was too small to pray about. So he knelt down on his sleeping bag and prayed again, asking the Lord Jesus to help him wake up the next morning at 5:30. He remembered the verse, “The Lord is nigh [near] unto all them that call upon Him.... He will fulfill the desire of them that fear Him.” Psalms 145:18,19. Believing that the Lord Jesus would answer his prayer, he went to sleep with his head by the netting at the door of his tent.

The next thing Larry remembered was waking up quite suddenly with cold water being splashed in his face! Thinking someone was playing a joke on him, he quickly looked out the tent door just in time to see a cow walking away from the tent. Then he figured out what had happened.

A dishpan of soapy water had been left just outside his tent door. It had been used by the boys, and Larry had taken it to his tent intending to get washed up a little before going to sleep. But Larry was getting into his sleeping bag when Tony came. He had forgotten about the dishpan of water.

The wilderness where they were camping apparently had range cattle on it. In its roaming, one of these cattle had found the pan of water. It must have taken a mouthful, and not liking the soapy taste had spit it out... right through the netting onto the face of sleeping Larry!

Recovering from his surprise, Larry remembered his promise to Tony and looked at his watch. It was exactly 5:30! Then Larry understood—the cow had been his alarm clock. Larry thanked the Lord Jesus for answering his request of the night before. He got up and wakened Tony.

At breakfast Larry told the boys about their “visitor” that morning and how it had wakened him. They all had a good laugh at Larry.

“But there was a reason,” Larry went on, looking at Tony. A knowing smile passed between them because Larry had already told Tony how he had prayed the night before and how the Lord had answered his prayer. Larry explained the whole story to the rest, giving the Lord Jesus all the credit for their having had breakfast on time that morning.

“He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6.

ML-05/13/1984

A Little Donkey

There once was a wild little donkey,

He had to be tied to a tree,

But Jesus was thinking about him;

He said, “Go and fetch him to Me.”

And when they had brought him to Jesus

As quickly as ever they could,

That restless, that wild little donkey

Was quiet, obedient and good.

When Jesus was riding upon him,

He went just the way that he should,

A patient, submissive wee donkey,

Made so by the blest Son of God.

And Jesus is able to make you

Whatever He wants you to be,

He loves you and longs to forgive you

And make you both happy and free.

ML-05/13/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Lion and Other Carnivores - Part 3

“How unsearchable are [God’s] judgments, and His ways past finding out!” Romans 11:33.

Some may ask, “Why does God allow lions to kill and eat other animals?” This is a good question. In the original creation blood-shedding, death and eating of flesh were unknown. But Adam and Eve were warned by God that if they disobeyed His instructions death would result. As we know from the Bible, they did disobey and immediately an example of the penalty of sin was shown them, for God killed animals to provide them with “coats of skins.”

Sin having entered into the world, God oversaw a change in many of His creatures, allowing some to become flesh eaters (carnivores), others remaining as before. This certainly was an evidence to Adam and Eve, as it is to us, of how dreadful sin is in God’s sight. Yet, in His perfect way, He saw that the needed changes were made in the appetites and digestive systems of these animals which were to display the penalty of death through their activities.

Happily, in a coming day (the millennium) the original peaceful order will return. This will be after those whose faith is in the Lord Jesus Christ have been called into heaven and after God’s rightful anger against the world that has refused His love results in His terrible judgment on them. Then there will come forth an earthly people pleasing to the Lord, and the animals will be changed to be as they were when first created. One Bible verse explaining this says “the calf and the young lion shall lie down together.... And the lion shall eat straw like the ox.” Isaiah 11:6,7.

Meanwhile, all life is dependent on the minerals, vitamins and nutrients provided in the soil by the Creator and conveyed to grass, vegetation, fruits, seeds and nuts. But lions and other carnivores don’t eat that kind of food now, so how are they to get this important nutrition? Here is another wonder of God’s ways. As a browsing animal (antelopes, zebras, etc.) eats vegetation these important things are deposited in its flesh and blood and, in turn, carried into the body of the carnivore that eats it. Only the Lord God, the Creator, could make such a provision.

God has not overlooked the herds from which slain animals are taken, either. A high percentage of those killed are sickly and weak and a burden to their companions. It is a mercy to have them removed with only a few moments of pain rather than linger on weak and sickly to a slow death.

Also, if the numbers of antelopes, impalas, etc., were not reduced this way, the herds would increase so greatly that soon there would not be enough food and they would face starvation. So we see God’s ways show His infinite wisdom in all things.

“Touching the Almighty, we cannot find Him out: He is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice.” Job 37:23.

ML-05/13/1984

The Fight

Memory Verse: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

The leopard is a member of the “big cat” family. Some others are like the lion, panther and jaguar. A fully grown leopard is a beautiful animal, tawny-white in color with black circular spots shaped like roses all over its body. Both its teeth and claws are long and sharp. It weighs up to 180 pounds and can be more than seven feet long from its nose to the end of its tail.

The leopard’s strength is unbelievable! When cornered it can fight well beyond its weight and size. This was seen in an incident in one of the zoos in Chicago.

At this zoo in the “lion house” a pair of large leopards had a cage with both an inside and outside area. Beside the leopard cage was a cage with three young lions in it.

One day while the leopards and lions were outside, the keeper was cleaning the cages. When he finished he forgot to close the door between the two inside cages.

When the animals returned to their inside cages, the lions found the door open into the leopards’ cage and attacked the leopards. A terrible fight began!

The three lions charged the two leopards. The attack was met by the male leopard. Keeping his body between his mate and the lions, he fought savagely. The snarling and growling of the leopards mixed with the roars of the lions increased as they sparred and tore at each other until the building almost shook with the noise of the battle.

The keepers tried to stop the fight by spraying water from fire hoses directly at the fighting animals. Finally, with the help of the hoses the keepers forced the lions back and into their own cage. The door was closed and locked.

The noise ended; the battle was over. But it was too late for the male leopard. His back was broken during the fight. He lay helpless and died shortly after. Yet he had fought so strongly defending his mate that the keepers found she was almost unharmed.

The male leopard died defending his mate. In a far more wonderful way the Lord Jesus Christ died to save all who would believe in Him. There on the cross He endured Satan’s power, but more important, He endured God’s punishment against sin—our sins. The Lord Jesus did not sin and could not sin. He died for sinners like you and me. How great His love is! “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

We did not love Him—He loved us. For those of us who know Him, that love came to where we were and saved us. “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8. Have you accepted Him as your Saviour?

ML-05/20/1984

Almost Is Not Enough

Two sailors on leave from their ship at a seaport on the African coast were shopping for gifts to take home. Returning to the port by taxi from their shopping trip, they saw a crowd gathering on top of a seawall.

“What’s going on there?” Jim MacLennon, one of the sailors, asked the taxi driver.

“I don’t know,” answered the driver. “It looks like something’s wrong.”

“Stop!” ordered Jim. “There’s somebody in the water!”

Leaping from the taxi, Jim ran to where the crowd watched. The wind had been strong all day and the waves were crashing against the wall. Jim saw a man struggling in the water. Not a second to lose!

Stripping off his coat and shoes, Jim dove from the seawall into the rough sea. He was a strong swimmer, and he swam as hard as he could against the surging waves to the rapidly tiring victim. Reaching him, Jim tried to tow him back to shore. Once... and then a second time, the violence of the waves tore them apart. Each time Jim went after him again, struggling to bring him to shore.

Nearly 2,000 years ago the Lord Jesus Christ “came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 1:15. Since the Bible tells us that “all have sinned” (Rom. 3:23), that means that all of us are sinners. That also means that the Lord Jesus Christ came to save all of us. Is that true? Yes, it is but, sad to say, not everybody is saved. Why is that? The answer to that question is simple: there are many who choose not to be saved. They struggle against God’s love, who desires “all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:4. Are you resisting God’s love? Or have you admitted to God that you are a sinner and need to be saved? If you have, God promises, “him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37. Don’t wait any longer to accept the Lord Jesus as your Saviour. He longs to save you right now.

As Jim fought to hold on to the drowning man, a tremendous wave washed over them. Once again the receding water tore the man from Jim’s grasp. This time he was carried so far out that there was no way Jim could reach him again.

Jim himself barely made it back to shore where he fell exhausted.

After recovering from his ordeal, Jim was presented with the “Medal of Valor” for his brave rescue attempt. In his short speech Jim spoke of two things— “almost” and “I failed.”

Yes, Jim had almost succeeded in rescuing the victim. We hope you will not become an almost when it comes to being saved. In the Bible we read about King Agrippa who was told plainly how to be saved. His reply was, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” Acts 26:28. Almost, but there is no record that he ever accepted the Saviour.

Jim failed to rescue the drowning man. The Lord Jesus cannot fail. Turn to Him now and be saved. He came in love to save sinners, sinking down to death with the weight of their sins. The Lord Jesus went beneath those dark waves of death and judgment and rose again as the mighty victor over death and Satan. He is still saving the precious souls of any who will trust Him as their Saviour and Lord.

ML-05/20/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: Birds That Eat Bees

“The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works.” Psalms 145:9.

There are many varieties of bee-eater birds, ranging in size from 6 to 14 inches. All have pretty feathers in various combinations of bright red, yellow, blue, brown and purple. A black mask appearing over the eyes is worn by all of them. These unusual birds live in Mediterranean countries, Africa, Australia, India and other tropical areas. The European bee-eaters migrate south in the winter.

Bees, wasps and hornets represent 80% of the bee-eater’s diet along with a few other insects. These are captured in the air—even the young can do this without any lessons from their parents. Their food being caught this way explains why the Creator gave them long, pointed wings and swallow-like tails, enabling them to fly swiftly and make quick turns in their flights so that they rarely fail to capture their prey.

Another special thing about this bird is its long curved and pointed beak. What purpose does it serve?

Well, if they only ate flying ants, termites, etc., a short, wide beak like a swallow’s would do very well. But catching bees and wasps is another matter, since a sting in the mouth or throat would not only be painful, but would probably mean death to the bird. So God gave it a specially designed beak.

Overtaking a bee in mid-air, it skillfully catches the bee across its middle just strongly enough to hold it tightly until the bird returns to its perch where it beats its captive against something solid to kill it. Then the pointed beak finds its usefulness, carefully removing and discarding the stinger, after which any remaining poison is squeezed out. Not until all this has been taken care of does it eat the bee or offer it to its babies. Isn’t that a wonderful ability?

There are those who think bee-eaters must have practiced catching bees in this manner and removing their stingers over many centuries before doing it just right. But that is foolish thinking, for it is plain that until they learned to do it perfectly each of them would have been stung to death and the species would have died out. No, there could never be any “evolution” of this or any other kind. God Himself gave these pretty birds their knowledge of how to capture and eat these poisonous insects safely when He created them. This instinct and skill has been inherited by each generation ever since.

The Bible tells us, “Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world.” Acts 15:18. It also tells us, “The Lord searcheth all hearts... if thou seek Him, He will be found of thee.” 1 Chronicles 28:9. What does He see when He searches your heart?

ML-05/20/1984

The Fireman

Memory Verse: “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4

Sid was a loyal fireman in Chicago, Illinois. He liked his work, but he loved people, especially children. This made him even more concerned about the safety of anyone caught in a fire where he was called to help. This is a sad story because Sid died, although he did not need to; he died in vain!

It had been a busy afternoon for Sid and the other members of the fire department. There had been several fires and other emergencies to which they had been called. Now once again they were on their way, this time to a burning 1 ½ story house where they found some very excited neighbors. “There are three children trapped in that house!” the neighbors exclaimed. Apparently Sid did not give any thought to his own safety as he immediately ran into the burning house to look for the children.

But, the worried neighbors were wrong. They did not know that the children were not in the house. They had left the house long before the fire had even started. And now Sid had gone into the flames to rescue someone who was not even there.

This story has a very sad ending, because Sid died in that house, looking for the three children—children that he desperately wanted to save. He died in vain because those children did not need to be saved. They were safe already.

Many years ago the Lord Jesus Christ died on Calvary’s cross because boys and girls (and grownups too) need to be saved. All people are sinners and need to be saved from the coming everlasting punishment for their sins in the lake of fire (hell). Just as Sid of his own will went into the burning house to save those children, the Lord Jesus of His own will went into death to save sinners from their sins. Sid died even though there was no one to be saved, but the Lord Jesus did not die in vain. Many have already believed that He has died for them, and they will be with Him in heaven. He died and rose again that we might be saved for heaven and from hell. “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13. How thankful we should be that the Lord Jesus did not die in vain.

Are you saved? Are you safe from the punishment that your sins require? The Lord Jesus loves you and wants to save you. Why not accept Him as your Saviour right now and have the everlasting life that only He can give.

“For 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.

ML-05/27/1984

Two Rabbits

John was nine years old and lived on a cattle ranch in the western part of Texas. There were coyotes on their ranch which sometimes attacked and killed their new calves. To help protect the calves John’s father bought a dog, a greyhound, which not only gave the coyotes a good chase, but it was so fast it could catch most of them.

The greyhound is the fastest of all dogs. Some people train them for racing. John’s father was not interested in racing. He just wanted a dog that was fast enough to catch coyotes and big enough to kill them once they were caught.

They named him Blackie, and he was soon trained to catch coyotes. He loved to chase anything. When he could not find a coyote to chase, he could always find a jackrabbit.

The jackrabbit lives in the plains of western United States. It has big, strong hind legs which help it to run very fast. When chased by Blackie, a jackrabbit would lay back both ears and run for its life... with Blackie not far behind. John noticed that a jackrabbit would never run into a safe place such as a hole, a cave or heavy brush. It depended on its speed to get away from danger. It almost seemed to be too proud of its speed to use a hiding place. Passing by the safety of holes in the ground or a ledge of rock, the jackrabbit depended on its strong hind legs... and always lost to Blackie!

There are those, like the jackrabbit, who think they can outrun sin and Satan. They say, “I’ll take my chances; I’m not afraid.” They depend on themselves and their good deeds to get them through. Their pride keeps them from running to the place of safety in the Lord Jesus Christ. They do not believe that their sins will catch up with them. But God says in the Bible, “Be sure your sin will find you out.” Numbers 32:23. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:7.

One day Blackie surprised a little cottontail rabbit in the brush and started to chase the tiny animal. The cottontail was only about a third the size of a jackrabbit. John saw what was happening and thought to himself, “Too bad, little rabbit. You don’t have a chance!”

Suddenly Blackie’s bark changed. At first John wondered if he were hurt. John worked his way through the brush and found Blackie beside a big rock. The rock was huge and had an overhanging ledge. A hole, only about four inches wide, went into the ground, under the ledge, and right down under the rock. The little cottontail had run into that hole under the huge rock, and it was perfectly safe! This scared little rabbit could not depend on its speed to escape, but it had enough sense to hide in a safe place under a rock.

We hope that you, like the cottontail, will not depend on your own strength and ideas to try to escape your sins, but will find a place of safety. Have you seen your danger without the safety of the Lord Jesus Christ? Run to Christ the Rock for salvation and protection. He is waiting to save you right now with open arms. “A man shall be as a hiding place from the wind, and a covert [shelter] from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.” Isaiah 32:2.

“I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.” Psalms 91:2.

ML-05/27/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Ever-Present Cockroach

“For His eyes are upon the ways of man, and He seeth all his goings. There is no darkness... [where they] maw hide themselves.” Job 34:21,22.

There are 3500 species of the cockroach, about a dozen of which are in the United States and Canada. They can be found in the kitchens, bathrooms and cupboards of rich and poor alike, as well as in restaurants, markets and food storage places. The largest is four inches long and the smallest is one-half inch (except for a tiny one an eighth of an inch long in the tropics). Their activities are in darkness, and only a brief glimpse of them is seen as they scurry to hide when a light is turned on.

Cockroaches are mostly black or brown, although some species are green, yellow, red or orange. These pests with six spined legs are well equipped for survival. Their jaws have sharp cutting blades capable of handling tough items, including table scraps, paper, cloth, glue, soap and even electric cords and pieces of leather. But before feeding they use their antennae and thousands of special feelers to “inspect” the food to determine whether it is safe to eat or not. Through this “inspection” they avoid poisons intended for them. Spraying with insecticide in their concealed hideouts does not do much good either. The pressure-sensitive hairs on their bodies also inform them when danger is near, sending them sprinting away in a fraction of a second. Even their endurance is remarkable. Tests have shown they can survive a month without water and three months without food!

Preferring warm, moist spots, they are frequently surrounded by filth which they readily eat and which clings to their legs. Transported to other places, this often transmits disease. However, they are industrious in grooming themselves by brushing their bodies with their legs.

We are not told why, in bringing so many insects into the world, the Creator included the troublesome cockroach. Perhaps one purpose is to impress on us that the world has been spoiled by sin and to remind us of Satan who also “grooms” himself to appear even “as an angel of light.” But in spite of this deceit, the devil is man’s worst enemy.

The Apostle Paul was aware of Satan’s evil activity and that those who do not turn away from his influence will, in a coming time, be under God’s solemn judgment. “O wretched man that I [am]! who shall deliver me out of this body of death?” he cried. Finding the answer, he joyfully responded: “I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 7:24,25 J.N.D. Trans. Have you, too, accepted Christ as your Saviour so that you can now give thanks unto the Father “who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son"? Colossians 1:13.

ML-05/27/1984

Beware of the Snake!

Memory Verse: “By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Romans 5:12

One day Mr. Hogan, a farmer living in Kentucky, drove his car out to one of his fields. This field was part of the floodplain of the nearby river and was just now dry enough to begin planting. His tractor and planter had been left in the field overnight as he had been working there the day before.

It was a warm spring day, so he left the car door open while he unloaded bags of seed from the trunk. Returning to close the door, he just caught a glimpse of the tail of a snake disappearing inside his car.

Now most snakes are not poisonous, but the family of snakes called pit vipers are poisonous. These have a deep pit or hole in front of each eye. This family of snakes includes copperheads, rattlesnakes and water moccasins, and all of these live in the state of Kentucky. Mr. Hogan did not see very much of the snake, but it looked to him like a water moccasin which he knew lived in the area near the river. He also knew they were poisonous and would bite if annoyed or upset. So he decided it would be best not to drive the car as long as the snake was in there.

His car was not new, but Mr. Hogan found good use for it. Now something had spoiled its use for him. This reminds us of the garden of Eden which God made perfect and beautiful for man to enjoy. But Satan through the serpent (snake) came into that lovely garden and spoiled it. He caused man to sin, and ever since, sin has ruined all God’s wonderful creation. Along with the sin came death: “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Romans 5:12. Sin brings death more surely than the bite of a snake. We have all been bitten by sin. But what a relief it is to read, “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23.

Mr. Hogan carefully began looking for the snake. He even removed the seats but could not find it. He wondered if he had made a mistake. But no, he knew the snake had to be in there somewhere.

Each of us knows, or should know, that we have sin in us. We read in the Bible that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. “All” means everyone—including you and me. The only One who ever lived on this earth who did not have sin in Him was the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Don’t be tricked by Satan. He will tell you to forget about your sins because you are not as bad as someone else. But the facts remain — “all have sinned” and “the wages of sin is death.”

Not finding the snake, Mr. Hogan decided to call an expert to come kill it. The man, called an exterminator, closed the doors and windows of the car and filled it with a poisonous gas. Two days later Mr. Hogan found the dead water moccasin under the dashboard.

Satan, “that old serpent, the devil,” came into this world hoping to destroy man. But for any man, woman, boy or girl who trusts in the Lord Jesus, Satan has been defeated. The Lord Jesus, by His death and being raised from the dead, has defeated the power of Satan.

Mr. Hogan did not have to know everything there is to know about snakes to understand that a water moccasin is dangerous. You also do not have to know very much about sin to understand that you need to be saved from it. If you are not saved, why not accept the Lord Jesus as your Saviour right now? You can go through life happily (or until the Lord Jesus returns for His own) and be at peace with God.

“Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.” Job 22:21.

ML-06/03/1984

The Foggy Night

Have you ever been out on a foggy night when the fog was so thick you could hardly see where you were going? The fog makes it seem as though you are almost blind.

Last winter a large flock of ducks was swimming around in open water on the Niagara River above Niagara Falls. During the day a dense fog settled over the area. Not being able to see, the ducks became confused in the fog and swam much too close to the edge of the falls. More than 1000 were caught by the current and swept over the falls into the gorge 150 feet below.

The next day when the fog lifted, concerned people found many of the ducks had been killed, and the hundreds that did survive the fall were injured and stranded on the ice. They were unable to fly out of the gorge because of their broken wings or feet. They also could not be rescued from the ice because it was too dangerous. Some ducks were able to fly away the following day, but others died out on the ice in sight of those who would have rescued them if they could.

The Bible tells us that anyone who does not know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour is “blind, and cannot see afar off.” 2 Peter 1:9. Another verse 1 John 2:11 Says that “he... knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.” This certainly is a dangerous way to go through life. Just as many of the ducks made a final fall over Niagara Falls, all people who do not accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour will make a final fall into “outer darkness: [where] there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 8:12. What an awful and unnecessary end!

The Lord Jesus Christ wants each of us to accept Him as our own Saviour. “If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7. Then we can live our life with the light of the Lord God as our guide and then live in heaven with Him where He gives the light forever (Rev. 22:5). Won’t you accept Him now?

ML-06/03/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: Blankets Around the World

"[The sun’s]... going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.” Psalms 19:6.

What a wonderful thing sunshine is! As the above verse tells us there is no place on earth where it does not reach. A wise Creator God has made the sun’s 93-million-mile distance from the earth exactly right to meet life’s requirements. No life could exist without it.

The seasons are also part of His divine plan. The earth’s axis being tilted 23 ½ degrees gives us the seasons. As the sun shines more directly over the northern hemisphere, summer is experienced while it is winter in the southern hemisphere. As it slowly tilts the other way the seasons reverse, thus providing winter and summer all over the world.

For human as well as animal and plant life to exist, the earth must be shielded from the fierce heat and deadly ultraviolet radiations of the sun. The Creator did not neglect this. He has (so to speak) wrapped several great blankets, mostly invisible, around the earth for this purpose.

The atmosphere we breathe, called the troposphere, is the blanket of which we are most aware. It contains the oxygen which is required for life. It also contains nitrogen, carbon dioxide, moisture, dust, salt, ash and smoke from volcanoes and smokestacks, etc. In addition to the protective value the troposphere contributes, it is Abe impurities in this atmosphere that cause beautiful sunsets and sunrises which are a part of the beauties of God’s creation.

We do not have enough space here to give detail about all the blankets, but beginning about 10 miles above the earth is a 30-mile-thick area called the stratosphere. In it is a 10-mile layer of ozone gas known as the chemosphere. This is one of the important shields against ultraviolet rays as well as harmful cosmic particles flying through space.

Above the chemosphere lie two other zones called the lower and upper ionospheres. In the upper one most meteors that threaten the earth burn to ash, making a brilliant “shooting star” display. The ionosphere keeps radio waves from drifting off into space and reflects them back to the earth. More important, much radiation from the sun is turned back here.

Finally, the greatest blanket of all, the exosphere, starts about 200 miles above the earth and reaches some 35,000 miles into space. This is the first line of defense against gamma rays and X-rays emitted by the sun in such great quantities that life on earth could not exist if its protection were missing.

Most of us rarely ever think about the wonderful way God has provided, such vital protection from the sun’s deadly radiations, except perhaps when we have been careless and experienced a painful sunburn. These blankets around the world are part of His care expressed in the Bible, “Thou hast made... the earth, and all things that are therein... and Thou preservest them all.” Nehemiah 9:6.

Have you ever thanked Him for His loving care over you—one small person in this vast universe?

ML-06/03/1984

A Pardon

Memory Verse: “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins.” Acts 13:38

Many years ago there was a missionary who had gone to the country of Bolivia in South America to preach the gospel. The people there thought the gospel was only this man’s idea. The missionary tried to show them that the gospel is the “good news” of God’s wonderful plan of salvation, but they would not listen. Some of the people became angry when the missionary spoke to them about the gospel and wanted to harm him.

One night about midnight a man knocked loudly on the missionary’s door. He told the missionary about a plot to kill him and his wife. There was a mob of about 60 drunken men armed with rocks and clubs who were on their way to kill them. This man, at the risk of his own life, had come to warn the missionaries to move out quickly.

But where could they go? The only way out to safety was the same road along which their enemies were coming.

They dressed quickly and, putting a few of their belongings in their little pickup truck, they started off in the darkness. Sure enough, down the road they could see the band of men coming toward them. Calling to God for help, the missionary turned on the bright headlights and, keeping his hand on the horn, drove straight at the drunken mob.

Taken completely by surprise, the men ran to get out of the way. They threw rocks at the speeding truck, but none of them hit it.

The missionaries drove a long way down the dry riverbed, which was the only road in that area. Then, asking the Lord for guidance, they drove to another section of that province, to the home of a dear Christian man who was a district judge.

After hearing of their experience, the judge said, “This is a serious matter. The governor must be told.”

The missionary pleaded with the judge not to report the men, because he had already forgiven them. He knew that most of them had been led by only a few men, the leaders, and that they were all so drunk they did not know what they were doing. But the judge insisted they be reported. So they went to the capitol to tell the governor what had happened.

The next morning on orders from the governor the twelve leaders of the mob were arrested and put in prison.

The following day the missionary asked to talk with the governor. He said, “Sir, I love these people, and I am asking a favor of you. Please release these men and let me take them back to their homes. I have forgiven them, and I have asked the Lord Jesus that you might approve my request.”

“They will kill you!” exclaimed the surprised governor. “They should be punished.” But after consulting with others, the governor said, “If you can forgive these men, then you may take them to their homes.”

The men were released after stern warnings from the police. Then all twelve climbed into the back of the missionary’s truck.

The missionary and his wife drove off with the men. Late that afternoon they arrived at the same spot where the men had thrown the stones. He stopped here and asked the men to get out of the truck and listen to God’s Word. Opening his Bible to Luke 23:34, he read the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as He hung upon the cross: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Then he told them of Jesus and His love for poor sinners and of how He was the missionary’s own precious Saviour and that He could be theirs also. Just as the Lord Jesus had forgiven those that nailed Him to the cross, the missionary was happy to do the same by forgiving them.

These hard men were greatly affected by what the missionary said. While he spoke to them, they took off their hats in respect. When he had finished talking they told the missionary and his wife they were sorry for what they had done and promised them their love and friendship. They kept their word, too. Later one of these men accepted the Lord Jesus as his Saviour. Many of the children of these men were later saved also.

Even the governor was so impressed by the outcome that he was convinced of his need of the Saviour. Later, he also accepted the Lord Jesus and was saved.

This same precious Saviour who saved poor Inca Indians in Bolivia is the same Saviour for you today. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8. He will give you, a sinner, His free pardon if you will in simple faith trust in that precious blood He shed on Calvary’s cross.

“And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them.” Luke 7:42.

“In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Ephesians 1:7.

ML-06/10/1984

A Stray Kitten

One day a stray kitten came to our house. It stayed around, and now it seems to love us. All we did was give it something to eat, show it a little love, and name it Teeny.

Now Teeny comes and rubs against our legs, purring so loudly it sounds like a little motor. Teeny was only a little stray kitten, but how the children love him.

Doesn’t this remind us of the Lord Jesus? He picks us up, lonely stray sinners, and brings us to Himself. He shows us His loving kindness, watches over us, and sees that we have everything we need. We are just drifting in this world with no purpose to our lives. But when we come to the Lord Jesus, we find a purpose for living and a home.

I came to Jesus as I was,

Weary and worn and sad;

I found in Him a resting place,

And He has made me glad.

Oh, how happy He must be when we thank Him for all that He has done and when we tell others about Him.

“Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house: they will be still praising Thee.” Psalms 84:4.

ML-06/10/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: Hitchhiking Birds

“He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.” Psalms 147:9.

The energy needed by birds demands a plentiful supply of food, and usually much time is spent finding it. Some, like the kingfisher, dive into the water for theirs. Others, such as robins, search in the ground for worms and insects. Swallows are an example of those capturing their meals in the air. Some others use an easier way.

For instance, the small and graceful, white-plumed cattle egrets ride on the backs of wild and tame animals. As these animals browse through grassy areas, they disturb insects which are caught by these hitchhikers. Even crows will ride on pigs while they are routing in the ground for tasty things, swooping down and catching the grubs and worms that are turned up. The well-known cowbirds ride on the backs of grazing cattle and enjoy the free food stirred up by the cow’s hooves.

The oxpecker, with its red bill and orange and black feathers, is another interesting bird. It frequently perches on the neck of an impala to remove ticks from the impala’s ears. At other times it is seen on top of or clinging like a woodpecker to the sides of rhinos, water buffalo, hippos, etc., eating parasites out of their loose folds of skin. Certain starlings, as well as the tickbird, also ride on the backs of these big animals.

Other unusual birds include the phaleropes in the Arctic and the carmine bee-eater of South Africa. Both gray and red phaleropes like to perch on the exposed fin of a killer whale and feast on parasites. The bee-eater, which has beautiful red and green feathers, rides atop another bird—the big kori bustard. As the bustard walks through meadows, it stirs up food for itself as well as its little passenger.

In the British Isles the pied wagtail perches on the head of a fallow deer and catches the pesky flies that bother the animal’s eyes and sometimes cause blindness. Often this bird’s young ones also ride on the deer’s back while the mother is busy up front collecting flies to bring back to them.

All these birds (and many others like them) help their hosts by catching the annoying ticks, flies, gnats and other parasites that bother them. They are very welcome as riders, and if the animals could talk they would, no doubt, thank them for the relief and comfort their service provides.

It has been the joy of the Creator to give these birds and animals a companionship in which each benefits the other. It is another example of how “The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works.” Psalms 145:9.

But, as wonderful as God’s care is over all living things, His care and love for you is much greater. That love has provided His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. On Calvary’s cross He was punished for the sins of all who, admitting they are sinners, would accept Him as their Saviour. Then God delights to call these His own sons or daughters. Have you accepted and thanked Him for that love?

ML-06/10/1984

A Chinese Chicken

Memory Verse: “Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” Psalm 50:15

In 1947 Mr. Chang was a gospel preacher and he lived in a little village in China. The communists were then trying to take complete control of China from the Nationalist soldiers.

One day some Nationalist soldiers, retreating from the Communists, asked Mr. Chang if they could sleep in the room that he used to preach the gospel. Mr. Chang allowed the soldiers to sleep there, even though he knew what the Communists would do to him if they found out about it.

Several days later Communist soldiers arrived. They soon found out that Mr. Chang had put up Nationalist soldiers for the night. They arrested him and put him in prison. Poor Mr. Chang! He knew what the punishment would be—he would be killed for what he had done.

The day before Mr. Chang’s trial his wife and several other Chinese Christians were in the gospel hall praying for him. A chicken from the neighborhood wandered into the hall cackling loudly and laid an egg right on the floor. The chicken made such a racket with its cackling that it disturbed the prayer meeting. Mrs. Chang got up and caught the chicken. She wrote a short note about the egg and tied it to the chicken’s leg along with some money to pay for the egg. Then she took the chicken outside and let it go.

About an hour later the lady who owned the village inn came down the street, bringing a man with her. Following them came a crowd of curious villagers. Arriving at the door of the little hall, the lady said to the man, “This is where the Christians are.” Then she turned and left.

The man said he was the Communist judge who had come to judge Mr. Chang’s trial the next day. He asked Mrs. Chang some questions: “Did you write this note that was tied to the chicken’s leg? And did you include money with the note?”

“Yes,” answered Mrs. Chang to both questions.

“Well,” said the judge, “that chicken belongs to the lady who owns the inn where I’m staying.” Then he asked her several more questions about her honesty and why would she pay for an egg when it had been laid on her own property?

Mrs. Chang told him about her Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, and of how He not only saves us from our sins, but He gives us a new life that wants to please Him in all things.

The Communist judge was impressed. “There will be no trial for your husband,” he stated. “I will have him released from jail, and we will forget the whole incident about the soldiers.”

How wonderful are the ways of God! The prayers of those Chinese Christians were answered in a way they did not expect. There is a wonderful verse in the Bible that says, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” Psalms 50:15.

Let’s not forget the last part of that verse, “and thou shalt glorify Me.” How often we take God’s loving care for granted and forget to thank Him. He sent His own Son, the Lord Jesus, into this world to save sinners such as we. As believers we know that He took our place and died for us on that awful cross. Now He is risen, gone back to heaven, and He wants us to trust Him as our Saviour and to thank Him for all He has done. We now have a new life that will want to please Him in all things.

“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled [restored] us to Himself by Jesus Christ.... We pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:17,18,20.

ML-06/17/1984

A Fight With a Shark!

Andrew and his teenage nephew John were enjoying a vacation on the beaches of Australia. This was another beautiful day to go swimming. The waves were gentle and the water was clear and warm. Andrew stood on the beach watching John swimming out to where the water was about five feet deep. Suddenly he saw the fin of a shark knifing through the water toward John! He called frantically to John to come in, but John did not hear him. Andrew made a running dive into the water in hopes of helping John, even though he knew it could easily mean death for both of them.

His powerful strokes soon brought him to within reach of John, but John had already been severely bitten on his left leg. The shark had disappeared temporarily and Andrew, holding tightly to John, swam for shallow water and shore. But the shark appeared again, and this time it went after John’s right foot.

Andrew pulled and struggled to free John, hoping to save his life. Finally, he was able to beat off the shark with his hands, but not before John’s right foot and ankle were also badly mangled. John had been conscious through it all, but after Andrew got him to shore he collapsed.

With the help of others who had gathered, hearing their cries, John was rushed to the nearest hospital. Although he was badly injured the surgeons were able to save both of his legs and feet. John was in the hospital for a long time, and he eventually recovered from his horrible experience.

If you have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you are in terrible danger! The danger that has a death hold on each of us is sin. Not only does the Bible tell us we are all sinners, it also gives the verdict— “The wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23. If you die in your sins you will face never ending punishment. “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27.

Now this is the good news— “Unto you is born... a Saviour.” Luke 2:11. “Thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21.

The Lord Jesus saw us trapped in our sins, and He came from heaven to rescue us. He did not only risk His life, He gave up His life for us! “For 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.

John could do nothing to save himself from that shark. Andrew was the only person near enough to save him. Andrew was John’s saviour in this situation. You and I have been bitten by sin. There is nothing we can do to save ourselves —we are helpless. But sin’s deadly bite need not be fatal if you will ask the Lord Jesus to save you. He loves you and will gladly be your Saviour, washing away all trace of sin and taking you safely to heaven. “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish.” John 10:28.

ML-06/17/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: How Much Are You Worth?

“Fear not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:31.

Not many years ago it was thought that the human body, reduced to salable items, would be worth only about a dollar. But as scientists learned more about the body’s valuable chemicals and minerals they have revised the figure to $150,000! Of course, this is just playing with figures, for it would be impossible to take these materials out of your body and sell them. Actually, the wonderful way the Creator has formed our bodies makes them priceless.

No one could ever construct anything like a living body with its wonderful parts all working tether. For instance, scientists often speak of genes. These are molecules in the cell that determine, even before you are born, what kind of person you will be and that make you in many ways similar to your father and mother.

The human body is made up of some 50 trillion cells, and each cell contains 46 chromosomes, and every chromosome has hundreds of these tiny genes. Do you think these parts, so necessary for life, just happened to come about or perhaps took millions of years to develop? No—it would be impossible! Adam’s body was given all these important parts when the Lord God created him, and they have been passed on to all people ever since.

Scientific language uses code names such as DNA, GRF, CRF, TRT, etc. These are abbreviations for terms describing how the various genes can determine whether a baby will develop into a person being moody or cheerful, quiet or lively, big or little, or having a certain color to his or her skin, eyes and hair.

All animals also have cells, chromosomes and genes, although they are not the same as man’s. The most important difference is that it was only of man that the Bible says, “And the Lord God... breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Genesis 2:7. The soul is part of our earthly life, but it will go on forever in either heaven or hell. God has lovingly invited us to make heaven our eternal home. It can be ours through faith in the atoning work of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, when He died on Calvary’s cross to pay for the sins of all who will trust in Him.

His promise about everlasting life includes the body as well as the soul. This assures us that when the Lord Jesus comes to take those of us who love Him to heaven, He will give each one a new body “fashioned like unto His glorious body.” Philippians 3:21.

Will you be included to receive such a wonderful change and live forever with the Saviour in heaven? Or will your soul live forever in hell?

ML-06/17/1984

Beneath an Avalanche

Memory Verse: “The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10

It was the close of a warm day late in the month of August, and little Franz Hoffmeister was playing near the cottage door with his baby sister Karine. His older sister, Therese, was cleaning up after the evening meal while his ten-year-old brother, Robert, was working on a project. They lived in a little Swiss house called a chalet. Twelve-year-old Therese was taking care of the other children while their father was away guiding a party of travelers over the mountains. Since their mother had died about a year before, Therese was often in charge of the others while their father worked.

Just after sunset Therese put the two little ones to bed. Robert bolted the cottage door, and soon all four children were sound asleep. In the middle of the night Therese was awakened by a sudden shock, as though something had struck the little cottage and made it shake all over. She was frightened for a moment, but then all was very still, and, being tired after her day’s work, she soon fell asleep again.

Some hours later in the dark cabin, little Karine awoke and called loudly for her breakfast. Therese was lying awake, and Franz called out in the darkness, “When will it be morning?” Therese did not know but decided to get up. It was still strangely dark, and they could not find any matches, so they dressed as well as they could without a light.

Then Robert unlocked and opened the door, but was immediately knocked to the floor, half buried in cold, soft snow. An avalanche of snow had slid down from the mountains and buried their home. This was why it was dark. The whole cottage was buried under the snow. While they were sleeping they did not know they were in danger.

Are you in danger and don’t realize it? God is looking down upon you, but if you are not saved, then “your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you.” Isaiah 59:2. It may be that you are still “asleep” as to your danger. If so, wake up now and cry to God, for His great salvation has already been provided for you. “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth.” Psalms 145:18.

“What can we do, Robert?” asked Therese.

“I don’t know,” he answered.

“Will Father dig us out?” asked Franz.

“I’m afraid he won’t be able to find us,” answered Therese.

“Then will we die here in the dark? Oh, if only I could see you, Therese,” Franz said, starting to cry.

The hours wore on. Poor little Karine cried until she was nearly exhausted and all four children huddled fearfully together.

At last they heard a noise, a heavy thud on the roof. Then they heard scraping noises around the door, and suddenly the beautiful sunshine came streaming through the open door from a hole through the snow. “Little Franz, are you there?” someone called.

“Yes, yes,” cried the chorus of four voices from below. In a few moments the neighbors carried the children out to fresh air and their father who had been shoveling since early morning.

Salvation from above had come for them just as it has come for you. The Lord Jesus came down from heaven, down into this dark world to save poor sinners like you. Will you have Him? When He calls, “Whosoever will,” will you answer “yes, yes,” just as the four children in the buried house did? It is very simple. It is God’s work, not yours. Salvation is already prepared for you. Do not sleep any longer. He is calling you today, calling from above. Won’t you listen and answer Him?

“See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh.” Hebrews 12:25.

ML-06/24/1984

The Little Lost Lamb

One evening Jack and a few of his friends started out in search of a certain lake in the Welsh mountains. They were excited about this hike as they had often heard about how beautiful it was near the lake.

Jack and his friends were walking along in silence when suddenly they heard a strange little noise. They all stood still listening and heard it again and again. Quietly the boys walked in the direction from which they had heard the strange sound. Soon they came upon a poor little lamb stuck in some muddy ground. The lamb continued to bleat sadly, but they could not rescue it. If they had tried to get too close to the lamb, they would have gotten stuck in the mud too. So, although it made them very unhappy to leave the little animal behind, they had to go on and finally they no longer heard its pathetic bleating.

Each of us is like that little lamb. It had wandered so far away from the flock that when the other sheep were called by the shepherd to go down the mountain, the lamb did not hear the call and it was left behind lost! Isn’t this just what we all have done? We’ve wandered away from the Good Shepherd—gotten lost because we have refused to listen to His voice calling us. If you have not listened to the call of the Lord Jesus, the Good Shepherd, you are just like the poor foolish lamb—helpless and lost.

Jack and his friends continued their walk to the lake. They reached the top of the mountain and stayed for a short time. Then they went down by another path, still looking for the lake. A short way down the mountain the group met a shepherd. They told him about the helpless lamb and begged him to go back and save it.

“Ah, I’m sorry to hear this,” the shepherd told them. “If it were not so late in the day I would go see what I could do. But by the time I could reach the spot it would be dark.”

“Then do you think that it can live through the cold night?” Jack asked.

“I’m afraid not; it’s such a young thing,” the shepherd replied.

So Jack and his friends had to move on, but it was a long time before they could forget the poor little lamb that no one could save.

How different the Lord Jesus is from the shepherd the boys met. The Bible tells us, “All we like sheep have gone astray.” Isaiah 53:6. But then the Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus, saw us when we got lost and came to find us. He gave Himself for us. It cost Him His life. He wants to save each one from everlasting death. Just believe in Him, accept the Lord Jesus as your Saviour and trust yourself to Him. The Lord Jesus said of Himself, “The Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.” John 10:11,27,28.

ML-06/24/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: Mice and More Mice - Part 1

"[God] giveth to all life, and breath, and all things.” Acts 17:25.

Did you ever find a nest of five or six little helpless mice? They are so tiny and cute! Maybe you wondered what to do with them, knowing that if allowed to live they would become very troublesome. If you disposed of them, the mother mouse, who scampered away when you discovered her nest, would be sad for only a little while, as soon there would be more little ones to take their place.

Mice give birth to about five babies 15 or more times a year. The little ones grow so fast that before they are a month old they begin raising families of their own. If all of these mice survived, within a year’s time there would be thousands of mice, just starting with the original pair. Thankfully, this never happens because most of them do not live long.

There are many kinds of mice, but most of us have seen only the house mouse which can be a real nuisance. We might even consider these little fellows, with their beady eyes, long whiskers, pointed snouts, velvet ears and long tails, extremely interesting. But when we realize how much damage they can cause, our main concern becomes that of finding how to get rid of them.

Still, they are God’s creatures, and He has provided them with the ability to survive in spite of many enemies. We know that when the world and its inhabitants were formed by the Creator all were at peace with one another. But the sin of Adam and Eve spoiled that perfection and brought hostility and bloodshed among various creatures. Ever since, mice have been the prey of cats and dogs, snakes, owls and hawks, coyotes and many others. They have survived through the centuries only because God has given them much skill and enabled them to bear many young, as mentioned above.

Not all mice are destructive. Some of the wild ones are important to the maintenance of wild areas. Although seldom seen because they are creatures of the night, there is scarcely a square foot of the deserts and sagebrush areas of America that is not visited by them every night.

Although mice may not be visible to us because of their habits of hiding during the day and feeding at night, they are never hidden from the One who created them. He keeps them under His watchful eye at all times. He says, “Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him?” Jeremiah 23:24. Isn’t it nice to know He is watching over even these little mice as well as over each one of us?

Have you ever applied this Bible verse to yourself: “O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever"? Psalms 107:1. He loves to hear you thank Him for every mercy, but above all for coming into the world to provide salvation for all who trust in Him. Don’t forget to thank Him for this wonderful love.

ML-06/24/1984

Help From Above

Memory Verse: “When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” Romans 5:6

The fishing boat Elinor Viking was returning home when the storm hit. The captain had heard the weather report; he knew a storm was coming. But nobody had predicted that it would be this bad!

He steered the little ship carefully toward more sheltered waters near some islands. His charts showed some dangerous rocky shoals in that area, but with his radar he should be able to stay clear of them.

During the night when the storm was at its worst, the captain found out that his radar was not working correctly. Without any warning there was a ripping, crunching crash as the boat was slammed into the rocks. The hull was ripped open like a can opener opening a can, and the sea poured in!

Have you ever thought that you might be in a situation much the same as this captain and crew? You may say, “No, I’ve never been on a boat and I’ve never been shipwrecked.” Let me explain that we are referring to your everyday life rather than if you’ve ever actually been on a boat. Each person is passing through this world and possibly not realizing that danger is ahead. This danger threatens our living souls, that part of us that will never die but will spend eternity in heaven or hell.

You may have heard “storm warnings” about God’s punishment of sin. It has been forecasted. The Bible tells us “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27. You probably have read about this judgment in these Sunday school papers also. But the question still is, what have you done about it? Like the captain are you thinking that you will weather the storm without anyone’s help—you’ve got your own “radar"? Then I’ve got bad news... it won’t work! Man’s feelings and ideas of how he will explain his sins to God are wrong. The Bible tells us there is no “explaining away” your sins to God. They must be completely wiped out and this only happens by accepting the death of the Lord Jesus on the cross for your sins. “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6. The only other choice is bearing the punishment for your sins yourself.

The captain of the sinking ship radioed for help. Other ships in the area heard the distress call and quickly came to see if they could help. They stood by, but because of the intense storm were unable to help. Huge waves were still crashing on the rocks and would have smashed any rescue boats coming close. If help were to come, it must come from above.

The Lord Jesus Christ came down from heaven to save any sinner who would believe in Him as Saviour and Lord from the punishment his sins deserved. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. This is the only Saviour for you. Will you accept Him now?

The help for the captain and crew of the Elinor Viking was a Coast Guard helicopter. Four brave men volunteered to go to the rescue of those on board.

Through the driving wind and rain the helicopter crew battled the storm until at last they were hovering just above the badly-listing ship. One by one the fishermen and finally the captain were lifted to safety by the lifeline from the helicopter.

The Lord Jesus loves you and is offering you His lifeline from above. He volunteered to die, suffering the storm of God’s punishment for sin on the cross, and He now offers free salvation to you. “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17.

Don’t cling to the wreckage of your life when God’s lifeline is within your reach. Take hold of Jesus’ outstretched hand with those simple words, “Lord, save me.” You will have the peace of knowing all your sins are forgiven and the happiness of knowing for sure that your living soul will be in heaven.

After being rescued the captain of the Elinor Viking summed up his experience by quoting the Bible verse, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13. These words, written nearly 2000 years ago, describe the love of the Lord Jesus for you.

We can imagine the thankfulness expressed by those fishermen to the helicopter crew who had risked their lives to save them. What about you? Have you ever thanked the Saviour who loved you and died for you? There is no better time than right now to accept Him as your own Saviour and thank Him for dying for your sins.

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31.

ML-07/01/1984

The Split Rock Light

Above Minnesota’s scenic North Shore Drive east of Duluth is the Split Rock Lighthouse. Built on a cliff the lighthouse sends out its warning light over Lake Superior. Below the lighthouse is a large formation of rocks that extends far out into the lake.

In the early days of navigation on Lake Superior, many ships crashed on these rocks and sank. Navigators knew about these rocks and tried to avoid them, but ships and lives were lost in spite of their best efforts. Why couldn’t they stay away from this area?

Finally it was determined that the lake bottom in that area was made up of iron ore. This ore deflected compasses several drees. This error, unseen by the navigators, caused them to steer in a wrong course that ended on the rocks. Finally, the boat companies united to get a lighthouse in that area so boats could steer by the light instead of by an unreliable compass.

Many people, young and old, are steering their lives by an unreliable compass. If we are relying on anything else other than God’s Word, the Bible, it is unreliable. God’s Word is “a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalms 119:105. By it we are directed to the One who said, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12.

The Word of God is true, accurate and not affected by the most powerful forces of this world. It always points to the Lord Jesus Christ who said, “I am the way” (John 14:6), and as the living compass for our lives can say, “This is the way, walk ye in it.” Isaiah 30:21.

When the light of life is received, the compass of His Word continues to guide safely and accurately by its precious truths. If as Christians we follow the Bible, it will help us to steer clear of the rocks and shoals in our journey. Obedience to that compass assures a journey of peace and happiness regardless of the waves and strong winds. The One who has said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb. 13:5), is on board. And until that soon coming time when we will be in the land to which He leads us, the harbor of heaven, He says, “I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:20.

ML-07/01/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: Mice and More Mice - Part 2

“But be ye glad and rejoice forever in that which I create.” Isaiah 65:18.

Whether it is a mouse or an elephant, a hummingbird or an eagle, a minnow or a whale, surely we should rejoice in God’s creation. We see the wonders of it on every hand, and we should not listen to those who say it is all due to evolution.

There are many wild mice which live in the ground, in meadows, forests and farmlands. The short-tailed field mouse, also called a vole, is one of these. Including its stubby tail it is only about five inches long. It prefers damp meadows where it lives underground. It can be a real nuisance when it eats the seeds of newly sown wheat fields and later devours the mature wheat heads. It also gets into barns and storage bins, and wise farmers keep several cats on hand to go after these pests.

Another variety is the white-footed or deer mouse. Large ears, bright eyes and soft fur combine with its white feet to make it rather cute. This one is not as destructive with much of its food being the seeds of wild plants, nuts and berries. It can cause problems in orchards by eating roots and tender bark. It makes its nest outdoors, storing food for winter and carefully cleaning every bit of it before putting it away. It is amusing to watch it eat, stuffing food rapidly into its cheek pouches with its forepaws.

The smallest of all is the Baird’s mouse, weighing less than one-half ounce and only four inches long from whiskers to the end of its two-inch tail. The grasshopper mouse is small, too, and helpful to man by feeding almost entirely on insects, including scorpions.

The outdoor pocket mouse, though tiny, has a long tail with a brush on the end, enabling it to jump three or four feet into the air. After filling its cheek pouches with food, it scampers off to its nest, packing the food away and rushing back for more. It wisely covers the openings to its runways while absent. Although wild, if caught and held gently this little fellow acts like a pet and likes being stroked with a finger.

Two interesting ones are the Japanese waltzing mouse that hops around in circles for no apparent reason and the singing mouse, chirping a large range of notes although not able to arrange a melody.

If space allowed there are many more that would be of interest. All are closely related, but the Creator has made each a distinct variety. How do you think they learned all these interesting ways? They did not need to learn them, because they are God-given instincts passed on from generation to generation. The Bible tells us all God’s creatures are always in His sight: “The eyes of all wait upon Thee; and Thou givest them their meat [food] in due season.” Psalms 145:15.

He is looking upon you, too, as the Bible verse states: “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” Proverbs 15:3. What does He see when He looks on you?

ML-07/01/1984

Garden Peas

Memory Verse: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3

The only way my children like to eat peas is raw, right out of the garden. That means that if I want them to eat peas that they will enjoy eating I have to grow them myself.

I can remember the first time I planted peas in the garden. I had rototilled and raked the soil, marked out three long rows, and dug the furrows. Then I opened the packets of pea seeds that I had bought at the store and poured some out in my hand. How dried-up and wrinkled they were. They did not look like they had any life in them to sprout a plant and roots.

Although I was not sure they would grow, I carefully planted all the seeds that I had and then covered them over with soil.

Gentle rains and even some snow followed this planting. Each day that I could get into the garden I would look for some sign of life—new green leaf shoots in the rows. One week went by and nothing happened. Ten days after the peas were planted the garden again was covered with four inches of wet snow. Although it melted within a few days, I was sure those seeds would not grow. I had been told that peas had to be planted as early as possible in our area, but I must have planted them too early. Nothing would grow in that cold, wet soil.

After several weeks of spring snows and cold rains, I had almost forgotten about my planted peas, even when it finally got warm and sunny. I had gotten discouraged and had quit checking them every day.

Three weeks after planting those peas, I happened to look out a window at the garden and was surprised to see three long, straight rows of tiny pea plants poking through the soil. Those seeds that I thought were dead were alive! And it looked like almost every seed had sprouted a plant! Three rows of new green life had come from those dried-up, wrinkled seeds. What had happened?

Pea seeds, like any other kind of seeds, will not grow if they are left in the seed packet. They look dead and might as well be since the life that is in those seeds is not doing any good. My family could not eat the seeds that were in the packet. Plants, flowers, then pods had to be produced before we could enjoy fresh garden peas.

In the moist soil those dried-up seeds soon absorbed water and swelled up. I could not see this because it was all happening under the ground. Scientists can explain exactly what happens, and it is very complicated. Water starts the press. Then when the right temperature for plant growth is reached, new life—little plants come out of the old seed. The old, wrinkled seed dies, but as it dies in the soil it gives its life to the new shoot—the little green pea plant that will grow and produce the fresh garden peas that we all enjoy.

As we think about the pea and how it grows, we can also apply the same idea to ourselves. If we want everlasting life, if we want forgiveness for our sins, if we want to have peace with God, we must remember how new life is given to us. The new life to the pea came from outside of itself. It was the moisture absorbed by the seed that produced the new growth.

According to the Bible, each of us was “dead in trespasses and sins.” Ephesians 2:1. We were like the pea seeds in the packet. There was nothing we could do to produce life by ourselves. We were “dead” and helpless!

But just as some work had to be done in the garden before we could expect our peas to grow, so work had to be done before God could offer us everlasting life. That work was done by the Lord Jesus Christ who loved us when He died on the cross. Just before He went to the cross, Jesus, looking ahead to what He would complete, said to His Father, “I have finished the work which Thou Gavest Me to do.” John 17:4. While on the cross He cried, “It is finished.” Yes, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the only power that can give new everlasting life to you and me. If we accept Him as our Saviour and believe that it was for our sins that He died, then we have new life that can produce fruit which in turn benefits others. Just as the pea plant grows and produces food for others, the Christian will grow in faith and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and will be used in many ways to help others. All of this is from the Lord Jesus Christ “who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.

In John 20:31 we read that “these [things] are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name.” Would you like this new everlasting life that only God can give? Or are you satisfied to be a dead seed? If you will not let the power of God through the death of the Lord Jesus give you new life, you are still in that “seed packet.” If you stay there you will have to bear the everlasting punishment that is reserved for those who refuse God’s love and die in their sins.

“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation.” Hebrews 2:3.

“It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27.

“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” 1 John 5:12.

ML-07/08/1984

The Library of Congress

The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. was established in 1800 by an act of Congress. At that time $5000 was provided for the purchase of books to be used by Congress. By 1814 the library’s collection included about 3000 volumes and 150 maps and charts. That same year the library was destroyed by fire, and the entire collection was lost. Congress began immediately to build a new library. Thomas Jefferson’s collection of 6000 volumes formed the core around which the Library of Congress was rebuilt.

Again in 1851 fire damaged the library, destroying 35,000 of the 55,000 volumes in the collection. The library then began receiving regular funds from Congress and has grown rapidly ever since. It moved to its present location east of the Capitol in 1938. It now has 36 acres of floor space containing more than 72 million items. This includes over 16 million books, 31 million manuscripts, 3.3 million items of music, 1.2 million braille volumes and 2.7 million containers of talking books on records. The collection is housed on approximately 320 miles of bookshelves!

It is not just the fact that there are a great number of books, but the quality of them is also impressive. The library has a perfect copy of the Gutenberg Bible, the first important book printed using movable metal type. It houses Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and the largest collection in the United States of books printed before 1501 (5600 volumes). There are also two volumes of every publication that has ever been copyrighted in the United States.

However, there are some very important books missing from the Library of Congress collection. They are God’s books. Did you know that your name is written in one or more of God’s books? In His books He writes down everything you say and do and think. Also, God has a special book called the Lamb’s Book of Life. In it He has written the name of every person who has accepted the Lord Jesus Christ (the Lamb) as his or her Saviour. It is God’s perfect record of who will spend eternity in His presence in heaven.

Some of the Library of Congress books have been accidentally destroyed, but God’s books containing the record of your life cannot be lost. The Bible tells us just how God will use His books. It says, “The dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Rev. 20:12,15. Is your name in the Lamb’s book of life?

ML-07/08/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Peccary or Javelina

“Surely I will remember Thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all Thy work, and talk of Thy doings.” Psa. 77:11,12.

Peccaries (also called javelinas) live in the deserts of southwestern United States. They are also given the name collared peccary because of a white band around their chests with the rest of their body being a dark gray. They look much like pigs, but peccaries are smaller, about three feet long, and weigh only 30 to 60 pounds. Like pigs they grunt and have big heads, short necks, tough round snouts, sharp canine teeth and stubby tails. Pigs have both bristles and hair; peccaries have coarse bristles only. Their feet are also different from pigs'. The Creator gave peccaries feet suitable for fast running and clinging to rocks.

Another difference: pigs have large litters of babies (shoats) which keep the sows busy for a long time. But only two peccary shoats, about the size of cottontail rabbits, are born at a time. Within two days the mother takes them to join the herd, which spends most of its time feeding on acorns, parts of cactus plants, seeds, insects and occasionally for a special treat, a lizard or rattlesnake.

Peccary herds stay close together, and the little ones get lots of attention. When one of them is hungry any sow will allow it to come and nurse. Adults also let the shoats jump over them, push them aside, and even steal food from them.

Peccaries live an unhurried life and in warm weather indulge in afternoon siestas in beds prepared beforehand. These are in areas of soft dirt which have been routed out with their tough snouts, leaving hollows into which they snuggle for long naps. At night they have similar sleeping places, but in a separate area. Before the siesta there is often a play period in which the shoats chase each other around or have make-believe battles, rushing at and leaping over one another.

Each company is identified by its own musky smell, so if a stranger finds its way into their territory it is quickly discovered and chased out. But they prefer to live peaceably and are not vicious unless cornered. Normally they run away when a human gets close to them, as may happen because of their poor eyesight.

These animals are another example of how the Lord God has populated the earth with living things of all kinds. He delights in His creation, caring for all of them as the Bible says: “The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.” Psa. 33:5.

However, the Lord Jesus did not die on the cross to provide everlasting life for animals. In His great love He died on the cross for all persons who will put their trust in Him. If you have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you can say, “O Lord, Thou art my God; I will exalt Thee, I will praise Thy name; for Thou hast done wonderful things.” Isa. 25:1.

ML-07/08/1984

HMS Costly

Memory Verse: “Redeemed ... with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” 1 Peter 1:18, 19

Danny was twelve years old and his hobby was building model boats. These models were not the kind made of plastic that just snap together. His boats were made of wood that had to be carved, sanded and carefully painted. He had several models of English sailing ships in his room, even with sails and rigging. All of these were complete right down to the last detail.

One day while Danny was in the store where he had bought most of his kits, the owner showed him a model partly put together of an English Navy power boat. It had been returned because the person who bought it said there was something wrong with the kit. The store owner offered it to Danny for less than half-price. Danny gladly bought it and hurried home to show it to his father.

As they studied the directions together that came with the kit, they could see that it was going to be a complicated model. Not only was it a large model, but it also was designed so a small engine could be added to make it actually work.

As Danny began working on the model, he soon found that the previous owner had done sloppy work. The hull had not been carved correctly and the rudder and propeller shaft were out of line.

Danny was a little discouraged about having to do so much of the work over, but he continued to work on it, following the directions closely. Then, as the pieces fit together, he discovered one part was missing. Now he really was discouraged—more extra work! After he finally got that problem solved he found another piece was broken. (Nothing about this model was easy!)

Finally, with lots of patience and work, the model was completed. The thought that it could be converted into an engine-powered mol and be controlled from shore intrigued Danny.

Danny’s father went with him to the model store to see what it would cost to convert the model. To his dismay Danny learned that the cost for the engine and controls was quite a bit more than what he could afford. His father offered to pay for the additional supplies, suggesting Danny do extra work at home to repay him. Danny gladly agreed and worked most of the summer to earn the money to pay back his father.

Finally the boat and engine were finished. Danny had done an excellent job and had learned a lot about mechanics too. Because it had ended up costing so much, Danny named his boat the “HMS Costly.” All English Navy boats have the letters HMS before their name. This stands for His (or Her) Majesty’s Ship, referring to the king or queen of England. The HMS Costly performed well under Danny’s control. Danny also had learned the cost of doing something properly.

Danny was able to pay the cost of buying and building the model. It had taken a lot of work which he was able to do. However, when it comes to being right with God, there is nothing we can do to earn or buy favor with Him. The price is far too high for any of us to pay! We have disobeyed God and must pay the punishment for our sins.

The cost to God for the salvation of just one sinner was the death of His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. On the cross my Saviour not only was punished for all my sins, but for the sins of anyone who would believe in Him.

God says in the Bible, “Without shedding of blood is no remission.” Hebrews 9:22. He sent Christ, the Son of His love, into this world to be a holy sacrifice for sin. There was no other righteous way to deal with man’s sin. “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.” 1 Peter 3:18.

Now God’s salvation is offered to everyone. It is free for the taking to all who will have it. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20. God is offering the gift of eternal life to us, but we must never forget that this gift cost God the life of His only Son. Danny named his boat “His Majesty’s Ship Costly” because the boat cost Danny so much time and money. For us HMS could stand for “His Mighty Salvation—Costly.”

Won’t you accept the free gift He offers you?

“He [the Lord Jesus Christ] is able also to save them... that come unto God by Him.” Hebrews 7:25.

ML-07/15/1984

The Keukenhof

Marlene was 10 years old and lived in a little town near Geneva, Switzerland. There are many countries all around Switzerland, and Marlene’s family often drove to France or Germany for short weekend vacations. They would just pack up their car and leave when school was over for the week. Marlene’s mother was busy most of the time with the baby, so her father usually did the driving.

One spring Marlene’s parents took the family on a vacation to Holland. Although it was only a few hours’ drive from where they lived, her parents decided to take a longer way there. Marlene and her brothers were on their spring vacation from school. Since they had plenty of time, the family went by ferry to England first, then across to Belgium, and then drove to Holland.

Marlene did not like spending long hours riding in the car, and she often complained about it as they were traveling. Although she was sometimes excited about the places they were visiting, she also sometimes wished (out loud) that she could have stayed at home.

Finally the family arrived in Amsterdam, Holland and checked into a hotel. There were many interesting sights to see that evening and the next few days. They rode a boat up the river through Amsterdam and one night went to a park with a lighted fountain. But the trip to the Keukenhof was what Marlene liked best.

She had always loved flowers—looking at them, picking them, smelling them, and even growing some at home. When they arrived at the Keukenhof—one of the most famous tulip gardens of Holland—she saw more beautiful flowers than she had ever seen in her life! Not only were there tulips of every color, but many, many other gorgeous flowers as well. Little winding stone pathways curved under trees hanging low with fragrant blossoms. Streams with little windmills beside them flowed past fields of pink, red, yellow and white flowers. Inside glass houses were more varieties of trees and plants. Marlene wanted to touch everything, to remember every flower and every color. She felt as if she never wanted to leave.

But they did have to leave. When she got back home Marlene planted seeds of many colored flowers in her own little garden. These flowers grew to be very pretty, and Marlene loved them, but none of them could quite match the beautiful flowers she had seen in the Keukenhof.

God says in the Bible, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9. The Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Son, said to those of us who will believe on Him as our Saviour, “I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:2.

There are many things that we love and think are beautiful in this world. But the Lord Jesus has made a way for us to go to His home (heaven) after our life here is over. He has said that it is a beautiful place, and that everyone there will always be happy. But each one of us —you, me, anyone who wants to go there—must ask Him to wash our sins away. The Bible also says, “There shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth.” Revelation 21:27. That means no sin can be allowed in heaven.

The Lord Jesus took the punishment for sin—yours and mine, if we accept Him—because He loves us. He died, but He also rose from the grave, and is waiting in that beautiful place, His home, for everyone who will let Him save them. Will you let Him save you right now?

ML-07/15/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: Lovers of Dead Things

“There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture’s eye hath not seen.” Job 28:7.

You would not want a vulture or condor as a pet! Their red heads, often covered with warts or loose-hanging skin, cruel beaks and bare snake-like necks make them rather ugly. Among the many kinds the largest is the South American Andean condor which is about four feet long with a multi-colored head, topped with a crown of loose skin called a carbuncle. The California condor is almost as large.

Although clumsy on the ground, the condor is a picture of grace when flying hundreds or even thousands of feet in the air. Rising on thermals (air currents) they make an impressive display of skillful soaring, wheeling and circling. Often they will soar for hours and never flap their great wings. Do you think they do this for fun? No, it is a serious matter with them. Provided with the keenest eyesight of any creature, they can spot a dead animal, a sick one ready to die, or keep a lion or tiger in sight so that when a kill is made they can drop down and claim part of it. An amazing thing happens when they find a dead animal. Although only one or two of these birds may have been seen in the sky, the minute one drops down after a dead animal large numbers somehow always appear in the sky, dropping down to squabble over the dead animal.

Reaching the food, it is seen why the Creator made them as He did. Their heads and long necks are bare so they can easily reach into the dead animal’s body. Feathers would get so filthy they could never get them clean. A sharp hook on the end of their beaks helps tear off pieces of flesh. Their tongues, lined with “teeth” that point inward, move the food into their gullets. When several of them are present, a carcass is stripped to its skeleton in minutes. Frequently they eat so much they have difficulty getting airborne again.

Although so unattractive, vultures and condors are an important part of God’s creation, and He has provided them with the features so necessary in their lives. Their great service is to dispose of dead creatures that would pollute the air and spread disease. They are sometimes called “undertaker birds,” performing their duty that the Creator has determined for them.

While vultures are properly occupied in their way of life, they bring to mind foolish people whose appetites are for the “dead things” of the world and have not obeyed the important Bible verse, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.” 1 John 2:15.

God’s Word, the Bible, points to the right things to occupy us. One who happily proved this said, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart.” Jeremiah 15:16. Can you say this?

ML-07/15/1984

The Little Furnace Cleaner

Memory verse: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20

I was working in the kitchen one summer evening while my husband David was working at his desk in the living room. Our 1 ½ -year-old son Brian was playing and dividing his time between both of us.

Suddenly I became aware that Brian seemed rather quiet. I looked around for him where he had been sitting on the floor playing with his toys in the hallway, but he was not there. “David, is Brian in there with you?” I called.

“No, I thought he was with you,” came his reply.

I called Brian, but there was no answer. I called again much louder, and this time he answered, but he sounded so strange. My first thought was that perhaps he was playing hide-and-seek, but my instincts told me that something was wrong. I was becoming concerned.

A 1 ½ -year-old little boy, or girl, cannot get along without his parents for very long. If he becomes separated from them, he is lost and needs to be found quickly.

A seven or eight-year-old child or a 20-25-year-old person can be lost, too, but I don’t mean from their parents. In the Bible the Lord Jesus Christ, speaking of Himself as the Son of man, said, “The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10. Who was He seeking; who was lost? It also says in 2 Corinthians 4:3, “If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost.” The lost are people who have not accepted the gospel. It is “hid” from them because they have refused to believe it.

Brian was lost and that was serious. Yet when his mother called him he answered. By answering, she could follow his voice and find him.

The Lord Jesus is calling you. Have you heard His voice? He says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock.” Revelation 3:20. This is the gentle knocking of the Lord Jesus at your heart’s door. He wants your attention. He is calling you. Won’t you answer?

I walked into the hall where Brian had been playing. Beside his toys the large grate covering the cold-air return to the furnace was pushed off to the side. Anxiously, I kneeled down beside the hole and called Brian’s name again. This time his answer came clearly, and it was coming up from the cold-air return!

“David,” I shrieked, “Brian’s fallen down into the furnace!” We both hurried down the basement steps as fast as we could. Terrifying thoughts were running through my head. A drop that far could mean broken bones... or even worse.

Down in the basement by the furnace I called Brian once more and heard him answer, “Mommy!” from inside. David quickly pulled the handle to lift the panel off the side of the furnace.

There was Brian, sitting on top of the blower motor. Under him were two furnace filters which had been ripped out of place on his way down. He was sitting there with a look of wonder on his little face, but as soon as he saw us a big smile covered his dirty little face.

Have you seen that you are a helpless sinner and turned to the only One who can save you—the Lord Jesus? On the cross He was punished for the sins of all who would accept Him as their Saviour.

Brian was completely helpless inside the furnace, except for calling, “Mommy!” As a sinner you are helpless, too, but you can call to the Lord Jesus. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13. He loves you and is patiently waiting for you simply to trust in Him as your Saviour. Won’t you do that right now?

David carefully lifted Brian off the motor. He was so dusty and dirty that it was hard to tell the color of his clothes. We checked him from head to toe, and found nothing wrong—no broken bones or even scratches, just lots of dirt. He certainly needed a bath.

How easy it would be if we could simply take a bath and have our sins washed away. But God says, “For though thou wash thee... and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity [sin] is marked before Me.” Jeremiah 2:22. There is only one way we can be saved from our sins, and that plan of salvation was completed by the Lord Jesus Christ. Don’t wait any longer—time is short! Why not accept the Lord Jesus as your Saviour right now? You might not have the opportunity tomorrow. “Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2.

ML-07/22/1984

Who Was She?

This young lady has just come to the end of a long journey. What is she doing? Who is the young man coming to meet her? Read this story in Genesis 24. Find four other camel drivers in this picture.

ML-07/22/1984

The Barometer's Warning

The fishing fleet was ready to leave port and go out to sea, but just before they left the fishermen checked the barometer. They were amazed to see that during the night the indicator had dropped from “fair” to “stormy.” Looking out over the water they could see no sign of a storm; the sky was clear and sunny and the sea was calm, so it wasn’t even windy. The only possible warning of trouble to come came from the barometer.

The men didn’t know what to do. They did not want to lose a day’s fishing with the weather so good, so they decided that something must have gone wrong with the barometer, causing it to give a wrong reading. Only one captain believed the barometer’s reading. Every boat but one went out to sea.

Everything went well for a while. The boats arrived in good time at their fishing grounds and let down their nets.

Rather quickly the sky clouded over and the wind began to howl.

Soon a fierce storm hit, and the men were frightened. The barometer was right after all! Leaving their nets behind, they headed back to the safe harbor, but many of them never made it. The storm became so violent that some of the boats and their crews drowned... all because they refused to believe the barometer’s warning.

God has given us warnings too. “God... now commandeth all men every where to repent: because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world.” Acts 17:30,31. “Prepare to meet thy God.” Amos 4:12. “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23.

What are you doing about God’s warnings? Are you believing and acting on them? Or, have you ignored God’s warnings? The fishermen ignored the warning and died. Do not refuse to believe God’s warnings, but accept the Lord Jesus as your Saviour today.

ML-07/22/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: Star of the Sea

“For the Lord is a great God.... The sea is His, and He made it.” Psalms 95:3,5.

Most people who live near ocean shores are familiar with starfish (or sea stars, as they are more properly called) for they are often seen dead on the shore. The more common starfish are colored bright orange, red or brown. They are a true star shape, with five tapered arms extending out to rounded points from the center. But there are many varieties, some with as many as 50 spidery arms. All are completely covered with armor-like shells.

A very colorful variety is the brittle star which moves rapidly through the water by thrashing its arms vigorously. This variety got its name because its brittle arms are easily shattered by crabs and large fish that then eat the broken pieces.

With few other exceptions starfish appear to be stationary or just moving gently with the current. But the Creator did not leave them without a means of travel. Using suction cups (or pads) on the underside of each arm, they pull themselves an inch at a time over the ocean bottom, onto a rock, a piling, or other object.

It is with these sensitive arms and the suction cups that starfish probe for and capture food. When a shellfish, such as a clam or oyster, is found, the suction cups of one arm grasp it firmly on one side and another arm clings to the other side. Then a contest takes place—the clam pulling its two shell halves tightly together and the starfish trying to pull them apart. In the end it is always a hopeless battle for the shellfish, as its enemy will relentlessly pull on the two sides for an hour or more, until the victim has no more strength left to resist. When the shells finally open, the starfish pulls its stomach (located on its underside) over the clam or oyster, surrounding it, and slowly digests it.

Fishermen, angry because so many shellfish were being eaten by these armored pirates, used to pull them from the water, tear off their arms, and throw them back to die in the ocean. What they did not know was that such pieces do not die—each piece soon becomes another full-grown starfish! When the fishermen finally discovered that they were actually adding to the population of these creatures, they immediately discontinued the practice!

Starfish are among the lower forms of life, without benefit of an intellect. We do not expect them to be aware that a divine Creator rules over the sea and its inhabitants. Our opening verse reminds us that this is so, and another Bible verse says, “The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works.” Psalms 145:9.

We, who have been given the ability to know of Him, His wonderful works, and His great love to us, are responsible to act on God’s Word expressed by the Psalmist: “Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!” Psalms 107:8. Have you ever done this?

ML-07/22/1984

No Catcher's Mask

Memory Verse: “Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood.” Revelation 1:5

Greg had been playing baseball from the time he was six years old. He played the game right through grade school, high school and was the catcher on a college team.

Although he no longer plays baseball regularly he is still very interested in it. So when the opportunity came along to help a boys’ team of eight, nine and ten year olds, he was glad to assist them.

During batting practice one day, Greg stepped in to play catcher while Todd, their regular catcher, stepped up to the batter’s box for a few swings. The catcher’s face mask was too small for Greg. He thought to himself, “I don’t need one. This is just little league baseball!”

There are many people around us who are not properly protected. They go through each day without concern about the danger they face. You may be asking, “What danger?” It is the danger that each person is in who has not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their own Saviour. When the Lord Jesus comes back (as He has promised He will), or if a person dies without having his sins washed away in the blood of the Lord Jesus (Rev. 1:5), he will face the punishment for his sins. But God has made protection from that punishment available right now to anyone who will accept it—the Lord Jesus Christ went to Calvary’s cross and took the punishment for the sins of any who will believe in Him and accept Him as their Saviour.

Having accepted Christ as Saviour, a Christian has complete protection. Nothing can take away the eternal salvation that only Christ can give. It is free for all who will simply accept it. Won’t you put on God’s “helmet of salvation” (Eph. 6:17) which will give you all the protection you need?

Greg crouched low behind the batter in the catcher’s position, ready to catch the pitch if Todd missed it. The first pitch sailed in right over the plate and Todd gave a mighty swing... but only ticked it. The ticked ball flew straight back at Greg’s face and struck him directly in his left eye, breaking his contact lens.

In much pain Greg was driven straight to the hospital emergency room. There a doctor carefully removed broken pieces of plastic from Greg’s battered eye. For a week Greg wore a patch over his eye to keep it closed.

When the doctor reexamined his eye he had more bad news. He found that the blow to Greg’s eye had caused other damage. Greg had to go back to the hospital for an operation the next morning. Then he had to stay in the hospital for a week with both eyes bandaged. He was not allowed to get out of bed or even move his head around, because any little bump would prevent his eye from healing.

For several weeks after he got out of the hospital, Greg had to go to the doctor for a series of painful eye treatments. A few months later the doctor discovered that Greg had developed an eye disease that may cause him to go blind. He now has to put medicine in his eyes every day for the rest of his life.

Do you think Greg learned a lesson from this experience? He certainly did, but it was too late to prevent the accident. He can tell someone else never to be a catcher, even in little league, without wearing the right protection. But he cannot undo the damage to his own eye.

No one has ever come back from the dead to warn us of what hell is like. In the Bible the Lord Jesus tells a story about one who “in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments.” Luke 16:23. He was told that there would be no end to the torments and no escape from hell. How awful! Yet, this is what each one faces who refuses the protection offered in love by the Lord Jesus.

Greg can tell you the value of a catcher’s mask. Yet there is nothing as valuable as your soul. It lives on and on, forever, even after your body dies. This is how the Lord Jesus explains how valuable your soul is: “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Mark 8:36,37.

Don’t refuse God’s protection for your soul. His great love to you has provided all that you need to be saved. Won’t you accept His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as your Saviour right now?

“The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.

ML-07/29/1984

Discovered!

Mr. Johnstone yawned and stretched. The morning sun shining through his window had wakened him after a good night’s sleep, and now he was ready to get up and go to work.

Suddenly, he noticed something and jumped out of bed. Something was wrong; his clothes were not neatly folded as he had left them. In fact, some of them were missing. He hurried from room to room checking to see if anything else had disappeared. Sure enough, his watch was gone, his wallet had disappeared and several other small, valuable items also were gone. Mr. Johnstone knew that he had carefully locked the doors before he went to bed, and he did not see how anyone could have gotten in. Continuing his search, he found that one of the windows at the back of the house had been broken. He also noticed that there was blood on some of the glass. Looking more closely, he found spots of blood in the different rooms where the thief had been.

Mr. Johnstone called the police who came quickly. He showed them the broken glass and the blood, and told them about the things that had been stolen. Then he showed them the trail of blood which led out the door and down the sidewalk.

Two of the policemen set off together to follow the drops of blood. They followed the drops up a flight of stairs of a house and stopped at a closed door. The policemen knocked loudly on the door, called several times, and finally pushed the door open and went in. Inside they found a man with a bleeding hand. The policemen questioned the man, but he claimed he knew nothing about any robbery. Spying a large bag under the bed, the officers pulled it out and opened it. There was Mr. Johnstone’s watch, his wallet, and all the other things that had been stolen from his home. The thief had been discovered!

I doubt that you have ever broken a window and stolen from anyone. But you don’t have to be a thief to be a sinner. God tells us in Romans 3:23 that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” He also says, “Be sure your sin will find you out.” Numbers 32:23. God is looking at your heart right now and He can see the stains of sin which no one else can see.

The thief who stole from Mr. Johnstone was put in jail for his crime, but God has good news for you and me. Although we are sinners God offers us forgiveness through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.

Don’t try to hide from God. Admit that you are a sinner and need forgiveness. Trust His Word, the Bible, which says, “their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” Hebrews 10:17.

ML-07/29/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: The World's Biggest Snakes

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:14, 15.

Of the world’s more than 2,500 kinds of snakes, the largest are anacondas and boa constrictors living in the swamps and tropical forests of South and Central America, and pythons in southeastern Asia, Africa and India.

The 12-foot boa constrictor is smaller than the 30-to-40-foot anacondas and pythons which are as big around in their middles as a fully grown teenager. All kill their prey by coiling around their bodies and constricting (squeezing) them to death, then swallowing them whole. They do not actually “eat” their food, but draw their hinged, elastic mouths over it, the non-poisonous fangs then pull it into their bodies an inch or two at a time. After a big meal the snake may not eat again for three or four months or more.

The long, flat head of these snakes has no ears. Vibrations and a keen sense of smell, received in part through a flicking tongue, make them aware of what is nearby. They never stop growing, although their skins do. Twice a year a new skin replaces the tight uncomfortable old one which is rubbed off—a startling thing to come across as it lies empty on the grass or on a rocky ledge.

Anacondas and boas give birth to live babies, but pythons lay eggs, incubated by the mother coiling around them. Either way, the “little” ones, as many as six dozen at a time and as much as two feet long at birth, immediately know how to squeeze small victims to death.

The boas spend a great deal of time in water, often with only a small part of their heads showing, waiting for animals to come near. At other times they climb trees to rob bird nests, or stretch out on a low limb to dart down and catch animals passing below. Pythons in their part of the world have similar habits, sometimes tangling with tigers or other big animals. Once they get their coils around their prey they are almost sure to win these battles. But such victims are too big to eat, and these contests only happen when for some reason they attack one another.

These reptiles have a place and purpose in God’s creation, but most people find them repulsive, especially so when remembering that in the Bible Satan himself is called “that old serpent, which is the Devil.”

When the Israelites in the wilderness spoke against God (Num. 21:4-9), He sent fiery serpents among them and many died. But the Lord did provide a way of escape, telling Moses to place a brass serpent on a pole and any who simply looked on it were healed. This is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ who later died for sinners on Calvary’s cross, with the wonderful promise that “whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life,” as our opening verse states.

Have you confessed that you are a sinner and looked in faith to the Lord Jesus to save you?

ML-07/29/1984

Fall From the Garage!

Memory Verse: “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36

Most boys like to climb trees, but quite a few girls do too. Kristin was one of those girls.

In Kristin’s backyard there was a big tree growing right next to the garage. Kristin and her friends would climb up this big tree and drop from one of its branches onto the flat garage roof. They would play up there for a while, then climb down to the ground using the fence behind the garage.

The top of this fence was about two feet below the garage roof.

There was a row of pointed, twisted steel barbs all along the top of the fence. To get to the ground the children would slide over the edge of the roof backyards, holding on as tightly as they could, until they could reach the fence with their toes, being careful to miss the steel barbs.

One day Kristin invited her friend Meg over to play. As usual they climbed up the tree to the garage roof, chased away the squirrels and played for most of the afternoon. When it was time to climb down, Meg slid down first. Then Kristin started down. But before she knew what was happening, she had slipped and lost her hold on the edge of the roof. Down she went, feet first!

Now, the garage roof wasn’t terribly high, and Kristin probably would have landed unhurt on the ground... if it hadn’t been for the fence. As she fell the sharp steel barbs caught the back of her leg, biting deeply into the flesh.

“Meg!” Kristin screamed. “Help me!” Meg just stood there not knowing what to do, watching her friend struggle. Kristin’s free leg was still a couple of inches from the ground, and she was just hanging from the fence.

Poor Kristin! Without any help from her free leg, she was stuck—and in a dangerous, painful position. No amount of struggling could loosen the fence’s hold on her leg. Her body weight only dug the barbs deeper into the skin and muscle of her leg.

This is a picture of what sin does to us. Each one of us, from the day we were born, is caught by sin. We can never free ourselves by struggling. But we can be free! The Bible says, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13. God sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, into the world to die on the cross, because of our sins. Then God raised Him from the dead, and now He is alive in heaven, waiting for you to call to Him to free you from your sins.

“Help me!” Kristin gasped again. This time Meg moved! Bending her knees she pushed up on Kristin’s back, raising her leg free of the sharp steel barb.

Both feet on the ground now, Kristin hobbled across the backyard, with Meg’s support, to the house. The ugly, deep gash just above the back of her ankle was bleeding and hurt so badly that Kristin could hardly walk.

As soon as Kristin’s mother saw and heard what had happened, she hurried Kristin to the doctor, who stitched up the cut in a few minutes. Both Kristin and her mother were glad that Meg had been there to help Kristin get unstuck from the fence.

The Lord Jesus came to save people from their sins (Matt. 1:21). God says, “Call unto Me, and I will answer [you].” Jeremiah 33:3. He will never refuse to save you if you call to Him. Ask Him today to set you free from all sin. “If the Son [Jesus the Son of God]... shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36.

ML-08/05/1984

Left Behind!

The wind and the damp, cold air made us shudder as we hurried from the airplane into the bleak airport terminal in Gander, Newfoundland. It was two o’clock in the morning, and the passengers were tired and stumbling with weariness after a long flight across the Atlantic Ocean. This was the last stop before home, and we were all looking forward to the end of the journey.

The immigration official announced, “Please have all passports and vaccination certificates ready for inspection.”

The line of weary passengers shuffled forward, and at last it was our turn.

“Your passports, sir.”

We handed over our passports, and they were carefully checked. “All in order, sir. And may I see your vaccination certificates?”

These were handed over at once, but after a moment’s inspection the officer frowned and said: “Something’s wrong here, sir. You have just four certificates, and there are five in your family.”

“But, officer, our baby is just a year old, and the doctor at home told us that he didn’t need a certificate.”

“I’m sorry,” replied the immigration official, “but the regulations say that not one person is permitted to enter the country without a vaccination certificate. The plane must go on without you.”

What could we do? Just one little thing wrong with our papers, and they would not let us into the country. We could only stand and watch as our suitcases were taken off the plane and it took off without us, leaving us stranded 2,000 miles from home!

Boys and girls, you are all on a journey, too, and sooner or later that journey is going to end in eternity. Is everything ready for you to enter heaven? Thinking that “everything will be all right” is not enough. We thought our papers were in order, but they did not satisfy the officials, and we were refused permission to enter the country.

The Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross of Calvary is our only passport to heaven. God tells us in 1 John 1:7 that “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” Have you accepted the Lord Jesus as your Saviour? If so, you are ready to enter heaven to spend eternity with Him. If not, you are not ready, and if the Lord Jesus were to come today and call all those who have accepted Him as Saviour home to be with Himself, you would be left behind for punishment!

As we watched the plane take off leaving us behind, we wondered what would happen next. The officials directed us to a building that had once been an army barracks. He said we could sleep there for the rest of the night while they decided what to do with us. The next morning they called a doctor who came out and vaccinated the baby, and then, after a phone call to the capitol for permission, we were allowed to board a plane and finally arrived safely home.

Soon the Lord Jesus will come to call those who have trusted Him to be with Himself in heaven. Are you ready? Or will you be left behind?

“Be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Matthew 24:44.

“Prepare to meet thy God.” Amos 4:12.

ML-08/05/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: Mangroves - Unloved but Useful

“And Abraham planted a grove in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God.” Genesis 21:33.

We are not told what kind of trees were in Abraham’s grove, but how encouraging to learn of his honoring God by planting trees. However, it is certain these trees were not mangroves, which would not grow in Israel. Mangroves require the salty, sandy shore waters of the Florida Everglades or similar places throughout the southern oceans of the world to thrive—and thrive they do, in spite of efforts to get rid of them.

Mangroves, once having taken root, anchor themselves in mud and rotting vegetation with the upper parts of their roots arching up and spreading out in a great mat. These are so tightly pressed together that only small animals, birds, crabs, snakes and insects can penetrate them. The trunk and foliage is lifted some 50 to 75 feet high off the ground by these matted and tangled roots. These arching roots continue to grow from the base of the tree as it grows.

Salt water will kill almost any other kind of tree. They are helped in part by growing where fresh water from rain and streams dilutes the salt. In addition, these trees are provided with filtering systems that remove much of the salt drawn up from the water, and they grow rapidly on what comes through the filters.

Of what use is a forest of this kind? Among other things it prides living quarters for innumerable creatures. Certain crabs find this a safe homesite. Lobsters and many shellfish welcome the opportunity to hide in the mass of roots. Leaves, dropping and decaying, provide rich food for many sea residents, including fish, bivalves and a great variety of worms, sea slugs and insects.

Birds, such as herons, spoonbills, egrets and other water-waders, find an abundance of food here. Shrimp, migrating many miles to such protected spots, grow fat and healthy before returning to deep water. Crocodiles and water snakes frequent such places, too. As the groves spread, ponds are formed within them, providing welcome resting places for migrating birds.

Mangroves growing in great numbers also protect adjoining land from storms and hurricanes. As they spread, the land gradually builds up behind them, in contrast to many places where storms eat into the land, washing sand and soil away.

The more God’s wonderful creation is studied the more we see that everything has its proper place in His plan. The Bible refers to a tree to tell us a wonderful thing: “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river.” Jeremiah 17:7,8. Can this be said of you?

ML-08/05/1984

"Roadblocks"

Memory Verse: “Be sure your sin will find you out.” Numbers 32:23

Summer evenings sometimes can be very hot, especially if you don’t have air conditioning in your house. Jill and Elaine lived across the street from each other, and neither of them lived in an air-conditioned home. They did not have a swimming pool in their backyard, either.

One hot, sticky evening Jill and Elaine were walking home together through the park behind Elaine’s house. Passing the town’s public swimming pool (which was closed at night), Elaine suddenly had an idea.

“Jill, what would happen if we got caught climbing the fence to the pool?”

Jill laughed. “I don’t know. I think they make you pay a fine or something.”

“It would be worth it on a hot night like this!” Elaine exclaimed.

So feeling adventuresome, the two girls hurried home to get their bathing suits. With clothes on over their bathing suits, no one at home was suspicious when Jill and Elaine said they were going jogging.

Once outside the girls decided to improve on the idea. The public pool was on a well-lighted street, but there was a private swim club a short way through the woods at the end of their street. So that’s where they headed instead, deciding there would be less chance of getting caught.

The woods were pitch black except for thousands of fireflies glowing in the air, trees and bushes. Rustling noises in the dark kept the girls slightly jumpy as they picked their way along the narrow path.

The eerie light and sound of electric bug-zappers around the deserted pool broke the still night air as Jill and Elaine approached the swim club. To their dismay they found that two feet of barbed wire had been added recently above the high fence surrounding the pool. It would be risky to climb over.

Barbed wire was not going to stop Jill and Elaine, at least not yet, anyway. They began looking for a good place to climb over the fence. As they tiptoed between the fence and the woods, they heard a scurrying sound and a small skunk ran out from under the trees and stood in their path. Jill froze! Elaine whispered, “Let’s go around the other way!”

The girls turned and started to go back, but another skunk ran past and went under the fence. It stopped beside the pool and waited. Jill and Elaine tried to sneak by, hoping to get away quickly, but suddenly the skunk came rushing back under the fence and blocked their way.

This time Elaine shouted at the skunk, “Move it, skunk!” Startled, the skunk ran away. Jill and Elaine ran too, as fast as they could—not through the woods this time, where a whole family of skunks was probably lurking, but around by way of some back roads. They were relieved to get back home!

Sometimes God puts up “roadblocks” to keep us from going the wrong way, as He used the skunks to keep Jill and Elaine from breaking the rules by trying to climb over the fence to the pool. He does this because He loves us. Before we are saved He puts up roadblocks so we will turn to Him.

The Bible says, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity [sin] of us all.” Isa. 53:6. Sin is going our own way, doing what we want, not following God’s way. The Lord Jesus took on Himself all the punishment for the sins of those who accept Him as their Saviour. Now, because God loves you and me, He wants us to come to the Lord Jesus, believing that we need to be saved from sin, and accepting Him as the only one who can save us. Do this right now and you will have not only a Saviour, but a Friend and Guide who will lead you through every day of your life, helping you to do what is right.

ML-08/12/1984

A Narrow Escape

Johnny was having fun with his toy truck. He was pulling it along behind him and enjoying the noise it made as it went bumpity-bump across the railroad tracks. Suddenly Johnny stopped. His truck was hard to pull across the tracks and at the same time he had just noticed something scary. A train was coming down the tracks toward him. He knew he should run, but he did not want to leave his truck behind so he hung onto the string and pulled harder. The train came closer and closer, and still Johnny stayed on the tracks, tugging on his truck.

Johnny was in real danger, and you may be too. I know a freight train is not about to run over you, but unless your sins have been washed away in the blood of Jesus, you are in danger of everlasting punishment. The Bible warns us that “the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. ' Rom. 6:23.

Johnny certainly would have been killed if no one had been there to rescue him, but someone did see Johnny on the tracks. Mr. Kucy had stopped his truck at the tracks to wait for the train to go by, and he saw Johnny’s danger. He realized that Johnny needed someone bigger and stronger than himself to save him and so, leaping from his truck, he risked his own life to save him. Johnny was snatched off the tracks just in time, while the freight train rushed by, smashing his little truck to pieces.

Are you being just as foolish as Johnny was? He was not old enough to understand that his life was more valuable than a $2.00 toy truck. Are you risking your hope of living forever in heaven with the Lord Jesus because you’re afraid of what your friends will think or because you’ll have to give something up? You are old enough to understand that asking the Lord Jesus to save you from your sins is much more important than having a few friends or a little fun right now. Heaven or hell is forever!

Mr. Kucy risked his life to save Johnny, but the Lord Jesus gave His life to save us from our sins. “The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Gal. 2:20. Won’t you accept Him as your Saviour right now? “Behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor. 6:2.

ML-08/12/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: "Proud as a Peacock"

“Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?” Job 39:13.

Actually, the name peacock applies only to the male. The female is a peahen, and together they are called peafowl. Both of them are very pretty, but it is the male that has the most beauty with his 30-inch body and 5-foot tail. Each feather over his entire body is patterned with an iridescent “eye.” He seems to enjoy proudly displaying this beauty by frequently lifting his tail and sweeping it back and forth.

These birds are native to Oriental countries, but have adapted easily to the many places they have been sent. The Bible tells us that Solomon imported them to Israel, probably to roam in his lovely gardens. The pharaohs of Egypt also did this.

There are two main color types. One is known as the blue Indian. It has a metallic blue-green neck and breast, purplish-blue underparts, and a long train of greenish feathers. It is the national bird of India.

The other is called Java green, and it has metallic bronze plumage and a crest of long, straight feathers on its head. It is the more splendid and stately of the two species with longer and slimmer legs. Its face is blue or yellow, and the crest of its head forms a long, straight tuft of fully-barbed feathers.

Both types are beautiful, but the blues are more popular because they are even-tempered. The greens are always fighting among themselves and sometimes attack people. The females (hens) of both varieties are pretty, and nearly as large as the cocks, but lacking the long train of feathers and crowns.

The “eyes” of the feathers on nearly all peafowl appear as a deep purple-green pupil, centered in an orange iris, topped with yellow, lavender, and green semi-circles, all pointing to the feather’s end. How faithfully they follow the pattern given by the Creator when He first placed them on the earth! Each generation repeats the design perfectly.

The only thing that spoils these unusually pretty birds is their voice. How disappointing when they call to find that no sweet song comes forth, but only harsh, rough cries, sounding like fighting cats or someone desperately calling for help.

“Proud as a peacock” is a common expression. Of course, the peacocks do not know about it. But we, for whom the Bible has been provided, know that we should not let pride come into our hearts and minds. One Bible verse states: “The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down; and the Lord alone shall be exalted.” Isa. 2:11. May we always remember to be humble and give all praise to Him, “the Son of God, who loved [us], and gave Himself for [us].” Gal. 2:20.

ML-08/12/1984

Last-Second Rescue

Memory Verse: “Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.” Job 33:24

Exams were finally over for Sherry and she was so relieved. She was looking forward to Saturday’s hiking trip at Niagara Falls with her three friends. The furthest thing from her mind was the possibility of dying, and yet, before the day was over Sherry would come very close to death.

The four friends began their hike at the bottom of the falls. They hiked up a trail that climbed the steep slope beside the roaring falls. Keith called back to the others, “We seem so insignificant!” but no one heard him over the roar of the water. Seven thousand gallons of water were falling every second with enough force to erode four feet of rock a year from the edge. Spotting an observation platform upriver from the falls, the four friends hiked to it and walked out to gaze down at the rapids. It was here that Sherry did a foolish thing. Leaving the safety of the observation platform, she climbed over a railing and walked a short distance onto a narrow ledge about 20 feet above the water. She did not think of the danger and just slowly walked along the ledge, casually throwing little stones into the rushing rapids.

The height along the path started to make Sherry feel a little dizzy, so she turned to rejoin her friends. Just at that instant she stumbled, losing her balance, and plunged head-first into the rapids. Surfacing, she immediately struggled in a frantic effort to reach shore, clawing and flailing at the water. But the downward pull of the current was so strong it kept pulling her under. Up... down... up... down. Sherry was powerless in that current; she could not do one thing to save herself. She needed someone to save her, and she needed someone FAST, for the current was pulling her quickly toward the falls.

Many children, and grownups too, are passing through life in even greater danger than Sherry. The Bible warns, “There is but a step between me and death” (1 Sam. 20:3), and “after this [death] the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27. Sherry knew that she was in deep trouble and needed immediate help. But many children don’t realize the danger they are in. They just drift with the current as if everything were all right. Remember what the Bible says— “Now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2.

On the shore Sherry’s friends were frantic. “Sherry’s in the water!” one shouted. “Where is she? I can’t see her!” another screamed. They all were racing along the bank trying to keep Sherry in sight.

Greg, one of her friends, was a strong swimmer, so he dove into the water. In seconds he was almost paralyzed by the cold and knew he had to get back on shore quickly. They all knew her life was in danger, but not one of them was able to save her.

By now Sherry was really afraid, for she knew that her life was coming to an end. Then, to stop swallowing water, she rolled over on her back. Feeling a little more calm, she prayed that her friends would save her. God was going to answer Sherry’s prayer, but not in the way she thought. He was going to send someone else who could help.

Perhaps your parents, your Sunday school teacher or a friend has spoken to you over and over again about your sins—they are deeply concerned that you are still without a Saviour. And yet, like Sherry’s friends, they cannot save you. They can tell you the way, pray for you, but only the Lord Jesus Christ can save you. “There is none other name [Lord Jesus Christ] under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.

A man named John was driving along the highway that follows the Niagara River. When he saw a man frantically yelling and waving at him, he pulled over. He quickly learned about Sherry’s desperate need, and he was willing to try to save her.

“Get the rope from the back of my truck,” he ordered while pulling off his shoes. By now Sherry was only 110 yards from the 175-foot drop and as close to shore as she would ever be. If she were not rescued now it was sure death.

John jumped into the cold water with the rope tied around his waist. With great difficulty he swam the 80-foot length of the rope, calling to Sherry. He strained, lunged and almost reached her, but the rope was just a little short. John was desperate! He made one more try, stretching every muscle in his body... and was just able to grab Sherry’s hair. Afraid that she would panic and pull them both under, John wrapped her in a big bear hug while those on shore pulled hard on the rope. They steadily pulled them both to shore. What a relief when both Sherry and John were safely on land! How thankful everyone was that they both recovered from the very frightening episode and certain death.

John just happened to be passing by and was able to save Sherry when she was in real need—when she was just seconds from death. But the Lord Jesus is waiting and ready to save you right now. He came to this world to save sinners from eternal punishment in the lake of fire. But, you must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved (Acts 16:31).

You may not feel you are in immediate danger, but we warn you that you are! When the Lord Jesus Christ returns (as He has promised He will), if you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Saviour you will be lost forever— it will be too late for you. It would be the same as if Sherry had gone over the falls. There is no rescue possible then. Sherry could be rescued because she was still in the river and someone strong enough to save her was there. The Lord Jesus defeated Satan at the cross by dying for us. When we call on Him, He is able and willing to save us. Won’t you accept Him now as your Saviour?

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 1:15.

“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.” Ecclesiastes 12:1.

ML-08/19/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: Is It a Frog or a Toad? - Part 1

“Or ever the earth was.... My delights were with the sons of men.” Proverbs 8:23, 31.

From these Bible verses we know that the Creator, God Himself, loved the people of earth even before He created the world. This delight and joy also included having us share His happiness in His created things. This even includes learning about the many varieties of toads and frogs that He has placed in the world.

In response to the title question, “Is it a frog or a toad?” the term “frog” is used many times to describe what actually is a toad. In spite of similarities, there are many differences. Toads, for instance, have no teeth whereas most frogs do. Toads have hind feet which are only partially webbed while frogs’ feet are fully webbed. Only toads are covered with warty skin, having poison in glands behind each eye and in each wart, that irritates and sometimes kills enemies (although it is harmless to humans). (Incidentally, it is not true that handling toads will give you warts.)

The eyes of toads are interesting, and many people think that they are quite pretty. Each variety has its own colors and jewel-like design. Like frogs, toads seldom blink their eyes.

Both toads and frogs have excellent patience, sitting perfectly still for long periods of time, waiting for a morsel of food to come swimming, crawling or flying by. Then, a quick flick of its long tongue will capture its dinner.

Most frogs and toads make their homes in warm climates. However, one that likes the cold is the boreal toad, a resident of British Columbia and Alaska. Another also preferring the northern climate is the Hudson Bay toad, a heavily warted specimen distinguished by a white stripe down the center of its green back.

One of the most interesting is the Surinam species of South America which is so flat it looks like it has been stepped on. Never leaving the water, it eats small fish, insects, worms, etc. Its long and slim, webless front fingers are very sensitive to touch, and with them most of its food is found. When the female lays eggs the male places them, one by one, in pockets on her back, and her skin quickly closes over them, providing a separate incubator for each. After several weeks they come out fully developed adults and do not have to go through the tadpole stage as most others do.

There is also a six-inch-long, four-inch-wide American toad, given the name of giant, but it is actually only about half the size of its cousin, the well-known American bullfrog.

These and a great number of other varieties are, like each of us, always under the watchful eye of our Creator, the Lord Jesus Christ. God’s Word, the Bible, tells us: “Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.” Job 12:9,10. Have you ever thanked Him for watching over you?

(to be continued)

ML-08/19/1984

Lemon Meringue Pie

Memory Verse: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

With his mouth watering Paul watched his mother carefully remove two luscious-looking lemon meringue pies from the oven and set them gently on the kitchen table.

“Now, Paul,” she warned, “I don’t want you to touch these pies. They’re for dinner tomorrow.”

Paul promised that he would leave the pies alone. But this was a hard promise for a five-year-old boy to make, especially a boy who loved meringue topping! He could hardly wait for the next day to come when they finally could eat the pies. Meanwhile, he tried his best to forget about them.

On his way to bed that night, Paul had to go through the kitchen. There on the table sat the pies, fluffy and golden brown on top. The temptation was too hard to resist. Paul glanced cautiously around the room... no one was in sight. He just had to taste that lemon meringue pie.

Tiptoeing over to the kitchen table, he reached out one small finger and scooped off a big gob of meringue. Oh, it tasted soooo delicious! But now, what should he do about that big hole he had left in the meringue on top of the pie? His mother would be sure to notice it in the morning. Paul got an idea... if he ate all the meringue his mother might think she had forgotten to put any on! So that is what he did—he ate the toppings off both of those big, delicious lemon meringue pies! Feeling rather guilty and very full, he went to bed.

In the morning Paul woke up and right away remembered what he had done the night before. He wondered if his mother would know. Then he heard voices in the kitchen. His mother and father were talking about pies—the lemon meringue pies that he had half-eaten the night before. His heart was pounding furiously; any minute they would come in his room to ask him about them. He wondered what he should do.

Climbing out of bed, Paul slowly made his way into the kitchen, his knees trembling. His parents turned to face him.

“Paul!” his mother exclaimed. “Did you eat the meringue off those pies?”

“Yes,” Paul mumbled with his head down. There was nothing else he truthfully could say. He felt miserable. He knew that he had disobeyed and that he deserved to be punished.

When we read in God’s Word that “All have sinned” (Rom. 3:23), we have to believe that it means you and me. But do you know that God knows all about you too? The Bible says, “All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” Hebrews 4:13.

There is good news, though. God also said, “Whoso confesseth and forsaketh them [his sins] shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13. God can show mercy to you and me if we confess to Him that we are sinners and accept His gift of salvation. This gift can be given to us because God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, was punished for sinners.

Paul’s mother was very unhappy about the pies. They were expecting company for dinner that evening, and her beautiful lemon meringue pies were ruined! She had to start all over to make new meringue as quickly as she could.

Even though Paul had disobeyed his parents, they had mercy on him and forgave him. He even got a piece of lemon meringue pie at dinner.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9.

“The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.

ML-08/26/1984

Too Late

In my commuting back and forth from New Jersey to New York City each day, I used to cross the Hudson River on a ferryboat. I worked within walking distance of the ferry in New York City, but had to catch a train on the other side of the river to take me home. The ferry was a necessary link and always ran on time. I could always count on it so I could catch my train.

Several years ago I had some shopping to do after work. I had done this before and knew what time the last ferry left that would still allow me to catch my train on the other side. However, I forgot about the time as I was trying to decide on a purchase. When I looked at my watch, I suddenly realized that I was running late for the ferry.

Paying for my purchase, I left the store and ran the few blocks to the ferry. When I reached it the big clock showed the time was 6:09 PM—the exact time the ferryboat was scheduled to leave. Running into the ferry house, I could hear the bell already ringing, announcing that the main door to the ferry was going to close. The attendant on duty would chain the passage to the door, which was about 20 feet away, so that the ferry could leave.

I made a dash to reach the passage before the man with the chain blocked my way to the door. His back was to me as he stretched the chain across the passage. I stooped under the chain and ran to the door, but it slammed shut. The signal had been given to close the door, and nothing could stop it. The door had been closed by the captain who was up on the ferry’s control deck. As much as I would have liked to have gotten on that ferryboat, I was too late. I had run as fast as I could, but I was TOO LATE. Since I missed the ferry, I would also miss the train I had hoped to ride.

Lots of people hope to be saved “someday” by accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour, but they are not watching the clock God’s time for you to be saved is right now. The Bible says, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2. We have no idea when the opportunity to be saved will be gone, except that it will be soon. Everything around us warns that God’s scheduled moment for the door of salvation to be closed is nearly here. God controls that door just like the captain controlled the door of the ferry. I had waited too long, and it closed in front of me.

If we miss a ferryboat, a train, a bus or an airplane we can always take another one, even though we might have to wait for a long time. But in God’s schedule, once He has closed the door, no one else can be saved. With God there is no second chance... as many people prefer to think and hope. Don’t get caught on the wrong side of heaven’s door when it is closed. Enter right now while it is still open.

“When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and He shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are.” Luke 13:25.

ML-08/26/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: Is It a Frog or a Toad? - Part 2

“For He [God] looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven.” Job 28:24.

Yes, even toads and frogs are included in the above verse, as is every creature God has made. In the last issue the unusual ways of some toads in various parts of the world were considered. Let’s look at a few more.

Among the smallest is Rose’s toad of South Africa which is only about an inch long. Another short one, the two-inch spadefoot, has a sharp spade (shovel) on the inside of each hind foot, something like the nail on your big toe. With these it digs underground to escape desert hot spells, remaining there until the rainy season brings it out again. The spadefoot is sometimes referred to as a frog, but it is more correctly a toad.

Both the Fowler’s toad and the oak toad look twice their actual size when blowing balloons from their mouths to increase the volume of their croaking. Some others make similar balloons, swelling out their throats to increase the volume.

The yellow natterjack of England, with deep brown warts, is also interesting. Looking almost like a tiny bulldog, it doesn’t hop, but runs over the ground. Another, rather peculiar looking, is the pale-green South American granular toad, covered with sharp-looking points that scare would-be attackers, although they are just soft warts.

One species which does not have the normal drab colors of toads is the olive-green Colorado River toad.

It lives in the deserts of the United States and Mexico and is the most venomous (poisonous) of all toads. It has glands in its legs containing poison which when rubbed into the skin of a small animal brings painful death. This is good protection for this species and it is seldom attacked.

Another even more colorful spies, which lives in groups of a thousand or more, is the golden toad. Their colors range from a bright enamel red to a brilliant orange. These make beautiful displays of bright color among the trees and forests of Costa Rica. They do not have to use loud croaks to keep in touch with each other, for their bright colors serve that purpose.

It would take more space than available here to write about all the known varieties of toads, but this little glimpse of them should cause us to admire the Creator’s marvelous work. The Bible’s assurance that “all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Heb. 4:13) includes each of us, too. It is sobering to realize the time is coming when we all must give account of ourselves to God who has been watching and caring for us (see Rom. 14:11,12). Are you prepared for that time?

ML-08/26/1984

Personal Life Vest

Memory Verse: “What must I do to be saved?...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:30, 31

My husband John and I have an unusual home; we live on a houseboat. We keep it moored in a downtown dock. From this location John has only a 20 minute walk to work. The boat is not very large, but it is comfortable. This is the only home our son Joel has ever known; the boat has been our home since before he was born. He is now six years old and goes to school nearby.

Being around water all his life, Joel knows all about the dangers. From his first tottering steps he has been trained to be careful and aware of the dangerous conditions all around him.

When Joel was old enough to play off the boat, we had him fitted with personal flotation devices. He wears a life vest in the summer and a special coat, called a “floater coat,” in the winter. Each of these could keep him afloat with his head above water if he were to fall in. He has been taught never to leave the boat without wearing one of these.

Do you have a “personal safety device” for your eternal soul—that part of you that will never die? Everyone has a soul, and while here on earth we have to decide what will happen to our soul when our body dies. Each of us has sinned, and, according to the Bible, judgment or eternal punishment is required by God for all sin. “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27.

However, God has provided an escape from that eternal punishment, which is the result of sin. He loves sinners so much He sent His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to bear the punishment instead, for everyone who will accept Him as their Saviour. For them He becomes their “personal safety device” which will protect them from the punishment that their sins deserve.

On the cross the Lord Jesus was punished, and the blood that He shed there will wash away all trace of sin. Then each can enter heaven (God’s presence) because of what the Lord Jesus has done for them. He has protected them; He has kept them from sinking into hell, where their sins would have taken them; He has given them each a personal salvation (protection).

Six-year-old children are usually busy and can get into trouble rather easily. Joel was no exception. In fact, because of the dangers of living among the boats, docks, ladders and water, he probably got into more trouble than most children his age.

One day Joel and his eight-year-old friend Meg got carried away with their game of tag. Joel lost his footing on a narrow walkway and SPLASH—he fell into the water. I was about 25 feet away, but out of sight when I heard him cry out. I dropped what I was doing and dashed toward the sound. I heard Meg calling encouragingly to him. As I rounded the corner of the boathouse, I saw him in the water with the tide carrying him away from the dock.

But Meg was handling the emergency just the way she had been taught by her parents. (She also had grown up with the ocean as her front yard.) She hadn’t even taken the time to call for help. Once she realized that Joel was floating away she quickly threw him a life ring that was nearby which had a rope attached. Joel had caught it and Meg was pulling him in as I arrived. The training they both had received and the protective life vest that Joel was wearing probably had saved his life.

Although this is not pleasant to think about, none of us know when a disaster might strike, and we could be killed instantly. We all know of water accidents, car accents, fires, earthquakes and other things. Usually there is no time to get ready for such things, because they happen suddenly. This was the case when Joel was playing tag—one second he was safe on the dock... and the next second he was in the water, and easily could have drowned had he not been wearing his “personal protection device.”

Each of us needs to prepare right now to be sure that we have the eternal protection we need. Besides the dangers of sudden death and not having our sins washed away, we also know from the Bible that the Lord Jesus is returning very soon. He is coming to take back to heaven with Him every person who has accepted Him as their Saviour. After He comes the opportunity to be saved will be gone forever. Don’t put off this decision until it’s too late. Accept the protection now that is being offered. “Now is the accepted time... now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2.

ML-09/02/1984

The Flower Clock

Have you ever heard of a flower clock? I thought I knew all about clocks, starting with the big grandfather clocks all the way down to small wrist watches. Yet when someone asked me if I had ever heard of a flower clock, I had to answer no.

The man who made the flower clock lived many years ago in Sweden. His name was Carolus Linnaeus, and he is famous because he was the person who developed the present scientific method of naming plants and animals. In this system each living thing has a name with two parts. The first part is for the genus (group). The second part is for the species (kind).

Even as a boy Mr. Linnaeus loved and cared for plants. His garden was full of rare and unusual plants. It was in this garden that he had his flower clock. The hours of the clock were marked by plants having flowers that opened and closed at exactly the time of day where they appeared on the dial of the clock. He had different kinds of plants with flowers that opened from three o’clock in the morning until twelve o’clock midnight. Almost every hour was marked by the opening of a different flower. The last plant to open was the large flowering cactus at midnight. Then until three o’clock in the morning, the great flower clock rested. What an usual clock it was, and what a smart man Mr. Linnaeus was. He knew each flower and what time it usually opened and closed its petals. Each hour had a different beauty and fragrance all its own.

The life of a Christian should be like a great flower clock. Every hour, every day and every year should be bright and beautiful. The life of the Lord Jesus was like this. The description of Him in Psalm one sounds something like the flower clock, doesn’t it? “He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” Psalms 1:3.

Are we like this? We should be. The name “Christian” means Christlike. Yet how often we are not like Christ since the things that we do are not beautiful or fragrant. It is His life in us that is the beauty and fragrance of God’s garden. Do we display it every hour of the day?

“How great is His goodness, and how great is His beauty!” Zechariah 9:17.

ML-09/02/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: An Unusual Nest Builder

“Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man path not where to lay His head.” Luke 9:58.

An unusual bird found in Africa and a few other places in Europe is called the Cape Penduline tit. It is about the size of a sparrow, but has a much longer tail. It is not a colorful bird, having just a few scarlet and yellow feathers by which it can be identified.

They are cute little acrobats and enjoy hanging upside down on swinging leaves and swaying branches when hunting insects, seeds and berries. They like to hunt together in groups of ten to twenty, constantly calling back and forth with low and pretty whistles.

The outstanding thing about the Cape Penduline tit is its long nest, a bag-like waterproof container suspended from a branch. The male bird usually starts to build the nest, weaving hoops of grass and fibers to form its basic shape. Soon his mate joins him and quite often others come to help; they seem to realize it is too big a project for two little birds to do alone. After the framework is completed, the bottom, walls and top are finished. Finally soft, fluffy materials, together with thousands of feathers, are woven in to make a soft, comfortable lining.

It is the entrance to this nest that is the most interesting. Two thirds of the way up, a large opening is made on one side, looking like the entrance, but it actually goes into an empty chamber walled off all by itself. However, this serves a real purpose.

When the parent bird returns from hunting food, it flies directly into this empty part, settles to the bottom, then cautiously pokes its head out to make sure no enemy is around. Satisfied that it is safe it reaches up with its beak, tugs gently on a concealed section and, lo and behold, another opening appears into which it enters. This is the true entrance, and the bird travels through it down to the nest area, the trapdoor closing by itself after it enters. A clever use of cobwebs and silk from the caterpillar nests makes a flexible hinge on this doorway, keeping it shut when not in use. Leaving the nest, the bird goes through the same routine, hopping into the big opening before flying off, so that any enemy seeing it there will think that is the place to enter during the owner’s absence.

When the little birds grow up they, too, will make identical nests with never having had a lesson to help them! How have they learned this? The answer is that the Lord God provided these abilities and instincts when He created them, and these are passed on from one generation to another. No lessons are necessary!

God watches over them at all times, as we read: “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest [visible] in His sight.” Hebrews 4:13. Yes, he is looking upon you, as well, and knows everything you do and think. How important it is to make the prayer of David your prayer also: “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my Redeemer.” Psalms 19:14.

ML-09/02/1984

Red Lights

Memory Verse: “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to Thy Word.” Psalm 119:9

Mr. Peterson lived in New York City. Usually when he was driving around town traffic was so heavy that he did not bother to check if the traffic lights were red or green before he crossed an intersection. He just pushed his way through the crowd of cars and taxis along with everyone else.

One day Mr. Peterson was driving in the suburbs with a friend, Mr. Grant. Mr. Peterson was talking excitedly to Mr. Grant, telling him a story, when Mr. Grant suddenly interrupted: “Hey,” he shouted, “you just went through a red light!”

Mr. Peterson looked back, using the rearview mirror. Sure enough, he had just driven right through a red light. Rather embarrassed, he apologized to Mr. Grant, “I’m so sorry. This is the first time in my life I’ve ever done that! I don’t ever remember going through a red light before!” (It was true that he did not remember, since he hardly ever noticed what color the lights were.)

Then Mr. Peterson went on with the story he had been telling. Suddenly Mr. Grant broke in again: “Uh—you just went through another red light.”

Horrified, Mr. Peterson looked back again. Yes, he certainly had driven right through another red light! He shook his head. “I can hardly believe this,” he said seriously. “The first time I’ve ever gone through a red light, and now I’ve done it twice in one day!”

Mr. Peterson was mistaken. He had gone through many red lights, but he did not realize it because he never paid any attention to them. Are you like Mr. Peterson? God says, “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth [carefully examines] the hearts.” Proverbs 21:2. Sometimes we need someone to point out our mistakes so we become aware of them. How often we would rather think that others have made worse mistakes than we have, and that they, not we, are the ones who need the help. We need to remember that God looks at each of us differently than how we look at each other. He sees and knows all about each one of us and says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” Jeremiah 17:9. He also says, "[How] shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy [God’s] Word.” Psalm 119:9. God’s Word, the Bible, tells us that the Lord Jesus Christ died and shed His blood to wash away sins. He then rose again from the dead, and now He is alive in heaven. He is patiently waiting in love for all who will turn to Him in faith, accepting Him as their own Saviour. Won’t you do that right now?

“All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

ML-09/09/1984

The Name in the Garden

Most people reading this know what the first four words in the Bible are—“In the beginning God....” Genesis 1:1. It puts God first—in the very first verse of the first chapter of the first book in the Bible. It is good when we live our life putting God first.

Some years ago there was a boy whose name was Jimmy Beattie. Jimmy was in kindergarten and was so happy when he finally learned to print not only his first name, but his second name correctly. It had taken lots of practice, with backward B’s and e’s, only one t, and the e and a reversed. But he had finally gotten it right and was so happy to be able to print it for his dad.

The first word a child learns to print is usually his own name. To be able to spell his own name is the most important thing in the world to a child. Jimmy’s daddy knew this and he was happy for his son. But he also wanted him to learn something more than just letters and words. He wanted him to know God and His Son, the Lord Jesus, as his Saviour and to put Him first in his life.

Is the Lord Jesus first in your life? Do you know Him as your own Saviour? Many of you children have fathers and mothers, uncles and aunts, and others praying for you, that you will accept Christ. Some of you have memorized Bible verses and sung gospel songs in Sunday school. Your parents read the Bible and pray with you every day. But, are you saved? Have you put Christ first?

Soon after Jimmy had learned to print his name, his daddy went into the garden and wrote “J-I-M-M-Y B-E-A-T-T-I-E” in the garden in big letters. He planted some flower seeds in the furrows he had made forming each letter. Then he cored them over and smoothed out the soil. But he did not tell Jimmy what he had done.

About two weeks later Jimmy came running in the house calling, “Daddy, Daddy, my name is coming up in the garden!” He could read it and it was like a miracle to him. His daddy tried not to show any surprise and asked Jimmy if he were sure. Jimmy insisted and finally took his daddy’s hand and said, “Come and see.” Sure enough, there in the garden in big green letters was his name, and Jimmy could spell it out letter by letter: “J-I-M-M-Y B-E-A-T-T-I-E.”

But his daddy still did not seem to be surprised and said, “There is nothing strange about this. It just grew this way.”

“No, it couldn’t,” insisted Jimmy. “It couldn’t just grow by itself!”

“Oh, you’re right,” replied his daddy. “It couldn’t just grow by itself. Now I will tell you. I planted the seeds in the garden myself.”

Then Jimmy’s daddy explained how God had given Jimmy to him and his mother and they very much wanted Jimmy to learn to love God like they did. The flower seeds that were planted had to die first, and then new life came from them. The Lord Jesus had to die first also, so that He could give new life to all who would believe in Him. That new life could belong to Jimmy Beattie if Jimmy would just accept the Lord Jesus as his Saviour.

Jimmy’s daddy again told him about the love of God in sending the Lord Jesus to die for sinners. On the cross He was punished for the sins of all who would accept Him as their Saviour.

Yes, God loves little children more than He cares for flowers, trees, mountains or stars. He wants every child to be saved—to have the new life that only can be gotten by accepting His Son the Lord Jesus as their Saviour. Won’t you accept Him as your Saviour and put Him first in your life?

“Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” John 12:24.

“Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.” Mark 10:15.

ML-09/09/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Tough Badger

“And he made a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of badgers’ skins above that.” Exodus 36:19.

The verse refers to the tabernacle Moses was told to build as a place of worship for the Lord’s people in the wilderness. The heavy, dense fur of the badger was a shield that protected everything inside the tabernacle from storms and severe weather.

Badgers are 20-pound animals, with short legs and black feet. They are tough and strong, about 30 inches long with short bushy tails. They are covered with a silver-gray fur. It is actually a mixture of white, black and brown. A single hair may have all three colors. Its cheeks and alert ears are white with dark stripes, and its dark snout and forehead have a white stripe from the nose to the neck. It is this white marking (badge) on the face that gives these animals their name.

Badgers are residents of deserts, mountains and treeless country. Being night hunters, their food includes rodents, rabbits, birds, snakes (including rattlers), lizards and fish. Coming across a bee hive, they rip it open for the honey, without worrying about the bees which cannot sting through their dense fur.

The Creator has provided many means of protection for badgers. For instance, if unable to otherwise escape an enemy, it can dig itself completely underground in less than a minute with its sharp claw. But actually they have few enemies to fear, for although timid, they are quite capable of routing dogs or coyotes with their claws and poweul teeth. Also being low to the ground, an attacker cannot get at their throats without itself being bitten first.

In the cold of winter, they sleep in a den some 25 feet from their runway entrance, sometimes even sharing their den with a fox.

The two furry babies, born in the den in the spring, are blind for a month or more. The mother raises the playful youngsters, training them to hunt and care for themselves. By summer’s end they leave her.

The activities of these interesting animals are beneficial. Besides eating destructive rodents, even their digging loosens the soil, making it water-absorbent which helps to prevent floods.

When underground, badgers know that they are hidden from everything. But what they can’t know is that an all-wise Creator sees them, for His eyes are always on every living thing.

The Bible tells us also, “For His eyes are upon the ways of man, and He seeth all his goings. There is no darkness... where the workers of iniquity [sin] may hide themselves.” Job 34:21,22. Rather than foolishly trying to hide from God, He invites everyone to come with an open heart to Him, saying, “Those that seek Me early shall find Me” (Prov. 8:17), and “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.” Proverbs 12:15. In which of these groups are you?

ML-09/09/1984

"No Higher Than That Peg"

Memory Verse: “To-day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” Hebrews 4:7

The water rose higher and higher in the Eel River. The heavy rains and the melting of winter’s heavy snows had filled all the streams and rivers. “Will it never end?” asked Ernie of the man next to him as they filled sand bags as fast as possible. The sand bags were being loaded on trucks and taken to places on the river where the water was starting to rise over the banks.

All over the state rivers were flooding. Highways and railroad tracks were covered and were being washed away. Homes and other buildings were flooding, and people were being rescued by boats or helicopters. Farmers were helpless to save their crops planted on the floodplain. They drove their animals to higher ground after their barns and corrals were destroyed. Day after day warnings went out for people to be aware of the danger around creeks, streams and rivers.

“Hey, Ernie, come here,” called his boss above the noise of the trucks. “There’s an old hermit living in a cabin in the woods where Bull Creek meets the Eel. Take Steve and Bob with you and make sure he gets out. The water is going to be at his front door in a few hours. If he won’t leave, carry him out!”

The three men climbed into the four-wheel-drive pickup truck and headed for Bull Creek. Several detours prevented them from taking the shortest way to the cabin. Finally after a difficult trip back along the long, winding dirt road they reached the lonely cabin.

After looking over the place, Ernie remarked, “No sign of the old man. He’s probably gone, but let’s check the cabin to make sure.”

Climbing out of the truck, they walked through the drenching rain to the front of the cabin and knocked loudly. There was no answer, so they knocked again.

In God’s Word, the Bible, we are warned many times about the judgment that will come on this world because of sin. God judged the world once with a flood and destroyed everything except the people and creatures who were with Noah in the ark. God has promised the world will be judged again, but not with a flood. There is a place of safety, just like there was in Noah’s time. Instead of an ark, this place of safety is a person—God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

The three men in our story left their place of safety to warn and hopefully rescue the old hermit. The Lord Jesus came into the world to save sinners. He has said to this world, “God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:17. The Lord Jesus also said in John 5:24, “He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation [judgment]; but is passed from death unto life.”

Have you listened to God’s warnings? The Lord Jesus was punished on the cross for any who would believe in Him. By accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour you will not “come into judgment,” but will have everlasting life that will be spent with Him in heaven.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus as your own Saviour, you still have time to come to Him for safety. Ernie and his two friends knocked at the door of the old hermit’s cabin.

God says, “I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20. Ernie wanted to rescue the old man if he were there. God loves you so much that He wants you to be saved. Don’t wait until later. Open the door and let the Saviour come into your life. You will not be disappointed.

As Ernie knocked the second time he heard the latch being opened from inside and the door slowly opened.

“What do you want?” growled the old man. “This is private property!”

“The river is rising fast,” explained Ernie. “Within the hour this area is going to be flooded.”

“See that peg in the ground behind you?” pointed the old man. “I’ve lived here for 50 years, and the water has never come higher than that peg. And it’s not going to come any higher this time either!”

Ernie and the others tried to explain to the old man that this flood was much worse than any before, but he would not leave. They finally had to pick up the old man and carry him to the truck. He struggled and yelled, but could not get away. They knew that he needed to be rescued, even if he didn’t know it.

As they tried to make room in the truck for the old man, he broke away and quickly ran back into his cabin and bolted the door. No amount of pleading by the three men could convince the old man to open the door. They tried getting in the windows, but they were too small. They tried to break down the door, but couldn’t. The cabin was built solidly, but could it stand up to the onrushing Eel River?

The old man was going to trust his life to the safety of his cabin. That was all he knew and that is what he believed in. Would he be right and not have needed the rescue efforts of the three men? The Eel River soon would answer that question!

What is your faith built on? The Lord Jesus tells a story in Matthew 7:24-27 about two men who built houses. One was built on a solid rock foundation, and the other was built on sand. Both houses were fine... until a flood came and washed out the sand foundation. That house collapsed while the house on the rock stood firm.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation rock on which a Christian’s faith and hope are built. It is as firm as Christ Himself. Nothing can destroy it! Is this your foundation, or are you trusting in something else? Remember God’s words in Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Christ is the only place of safety from the judgment for sins that will come upon every unsaved person in this world. If He is your Saviour you have nothing to fear.

The river had continued to rise while Ernie and his two friends tried to convince the old man to leave the cabin. They heard the roar as a new wall of water roared down Bull Creek. A storm in the mountains on already rain-soaked ground had sent this wall of water down the swollen creek. Ernie and the others jumped into the truck and left, making it just in time to higher ground. With no place for the wall of water to run into the flooded river, it backed up around the cabin. From their safe, higher spot the three men looked back just as the raging torrent hit the cabin with such force that it was torn from its foundation and smashed to pieces.

What must have been the thoughts then of the old man who had locked himself inside his cabin. His trust in the strength of his cabin was a real trust, but it was in the wrong thing. What are you trusting in?

“To-day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” Hebrews 4:7.

ML-09/16/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Big Hippopotamus

“And God made the beast of the earth after his kind... and God saw that it was good. " Genesis 1:25.

The hippopotamus, also called the African river horse, is a huge, three to four-ton animal. It grows to 14 feet long and between five and six feet tall. Next to the elephant it is the world’s largest land animal. Its enormous head has tiny ears and wicked-looking eyes on each side of its bulging forehead. It is equipped with a sharp-toothed mouth that can cut a crocodile in half with one bite and even bite another hippo viciously when fighting among themselves.

The Creator has provided this water-loving beast with nostrils located so that it can lie underwater with just its nose above the surface. If it goes completely under, valves automatically take over so it can stay down a full five minutes.

Short, thick legs with wide feet having four webbed toes are spaced far apart to support its great weight when on land, but hardly look strong enough for the job. Yet it moves amazingly fast over the ground and can easily outrun a man. It lives in streams, rivers or lakes where mud-baths are available. It goes ashore at times to feed on grass and foliage to add to its usual diet of water-plants. A mature hippo eats about 200 pounds of vegetation a day.

Mothers usually give birth to one 50 to 70-pound, pink baby a year. You would certainly consider the offspring ugly with its big head and loose skin over rolls of fat, but each mother shows her pet lots of attention, guarding it carefully and letting it frequently ride on top of her head. The little ones nurse for over a year.

Skin about two inches thick, with many wrinkles, attracts irritating insects. Knowing this, a variety of birds ride the hippos’ backs to feast on these pests. The hippos seem to realize these riders are helpful and do not scare them away. This is another example of how the Creator often provides two extremely different creatures to benefit one another. A further provision of His care is the means by which hippos avoid sunburn in the hot African weather when out of water. Glands lying just under their bare skin moisten it, much like suntan lotion protects your skin.

As we consider the care the Lord God gives every creature, we are reminded that His loving thoughts toward us are even more wonderful. Animals have only one life, but we have a life after death. While most people hope to be in heaven, many forget that none can enter there with their sins on them and need to follow the Bible’s instruction: “prepare to meet thy God.” Amos 4:12.

Happily, we read, “Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.” 1 Peter 3:18. Each of us must make this our own personal belief, confessing himself or herself a sinner, thanking Him for so great a salvation, and in faith accepting Him as our Saviour. Have you done this?

ML-09/16/1984

Trapped

Memory Verse: “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation.” Hebrews 2:3

Homeowners on both shores of the St. Clair River between Michigan and Ontario were busy in late April cutting their riverbank lawns. However, it was another story for the crews of the several dozen ships attempting to make the passage between Lake Huron and Lake Erie. They had a problem—they were trapped!

A late breakup of the thick ice on Lake Huron had pushed ice floes into the river. This ice was so thick that it stopped large, ocean-going freighters and ore boats. The ice wedged in around them so that they could not move in any direction. At this same time about 70 additional ships were waiting to enter the river from the southern end. The delay was costing the owners of the ships millions of dollars a day. Other land-based companies dependent on the material being transported by these ships were also facing delays. Their situation was just as serious.

As serious a problem as this was, the condition of those who are trapped in sin is far worse. The ships and companies faced only a delay, since the ice would break up or melt sooner or later. But for a sinner trapped in sin, there is no “waiting it out.” To die in your sins means eternity in hell!

It is a condition that must be settled now.

Let’s think about the similarities between those ships and ourselves. One thing was certain at this time, the ships and their crews could not help themselves. They would require outside assistance. The governments of both the United States and Canada took steps to help the trapped ships. Several large, powerful icebreakers were sent into the St. Clair River to try to free those ships trapped by the ice. The captains could either accept the help offered or refuse the assistance. We, too, can either accept God’s offer of salvation and be free of our sins, or reject it and be punished for our sins. The decision is ours.

The trapped ships would picture the naturally helpless sinner— “holden with the cords of his sins.” Proverbs 5:22. Instead of being held by the grip of the river ice, the sinner is held by his sins.

After working several hours an icebreaker would sometimes only partially succeed in freeing a ship. The freedom from sin and its consequences that God offers is complete.

It made very little difference where the ships had begun their voyage. Freighters alike from Japan, Poland, Greece, Singapore, Belgium and Panama shared the same fate—trapped. The Bible tells us of man’s worldwide need and condition: “For there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:22,23. We are thankful that God has provided a way for the helpless sinner to be freed. The Lord Jesus Christ was punished on the cross for all who would accept Him as their Saviour. Won’t you do this now and be set free from the sin that has you trapped? “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36.

ML-09/23/1984

Candy's Trust

The front door slammed shut for the last time, ending the family morning rush to school and work. The sudden stillness seemed almost heavy, and perhaps that is why three-year-old Candy slipped onto the family-room couch beside Mother for a good think. Mother had settled herself there with a sigh and a second cup of coffee to enjoy her small daughter. They often sat together like this, and Mother would share what was on her mind.

The family station wagon had many mechanical problems, being old and, as we sometimes say, a “lemon.” There was an ongoing dream and prayer with this family of seven to purchase a nice, large van that would end all problems and be perfect for this trip or that. Candy often chattered away about such plans, but° today her thoughts went deeper.

At last she asked, “Mommy, how is the Lord going to let us know when our own van is ready? Will He just call down from heaven and say, ‘Your van is ready!'?”

Now, I suppose you are smiling as Mother did, but with her smile was a tear of thankfulness for the sweet child’s simple faith. But you laughing might say, “God doesn’t call down from heaven!” Oh? But hasn’t He? Since time began He has been calling down, sometimes out loud and sometimes in written words. Then wonder of wonders! He came down in the person of the blessed Lord Jesus. The written words He left us, although not so startling as vocal calls, are really best—because we can read and reread them to be sure we understand their meaning.

God has something for us too—something of far greater value than a nice van. Listen: in Matthew 22 Jesus speaks of a great marriage supper in heaven which God has prepared for His Son. He wants you to be a part of it and to have a home in heaven with Him. Jesus said, “Behold... all things are ready: come unto the marriage.” verse 4. Then in the 24th chapter we read, “Therefore be ye also ready.” How does a child get ready for such a wonderful thing? We must be clean, perfectly clean of any stain of sin, for heaven is a holy place. Past sins, forgotten sins, “little” sins—all must be gone! We can not do one thing to make ourselves clean. So we have a problem. The Son of God Himself came down to help us in our need.

Do you want a perfectly clean heart and the peace and joy it would bring? The Lord Jesus calls this desire “thirsting for the water of life.” For only with a washed heart can one have that life with Him. John 7 verse 37 says, “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink.” And He promised, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37. On Calvary’s cross He shed His own precious blood that we might be cleansed from our sins. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.

Now the question is, are you ready? God is, and still calls to you from heaven.

ML-09/23/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Pocket Gopher

“I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember Thy wonders of old.” Psalms 77:11.

There are many kinds of gophers, each with its own name. Do you know how the pocket gopher got his? It was given because of the remarkable fur-lined pockets on the outside of its head, stretching from its mouth to its neck. In them it stuffs food to carry to storage chambers. There they are emptied by turning the pockets inside out, after which the busy little fellow returns to get another load until enough is put away for the winter. Squirrels and chipmunks have cheek pouches for carrying food, too, but this is the only rodent having large fur-lined pockets on the outside of its body—therefore the name “pocket gopher.”

Few people have seen these gophers, for they seldom come out of their burrows and never go more than a few feet away, except when exploring for food. They themselves are food for snakes, birds and larger animals and so are nervous, darting quickly into their homes when danger is near.

This six to ten-inch rodent, weighing less than a pound, is found over wide areas of Canada, United States, Mexico and Central America. The most noticeable things about it are its large, long and sharp-pointed front claws, and its big yellow teeth which are always showing, even when its mouth is closed. It has a large head with very small eyes and ears.

One might wonder why the Creator designed it this way. The reason must be that most of its life is spent digging burrows, and these features are a real help for this. Those big teeth, incidentally, are not only for gnawing food, but are real power shovels, working with the claws when digging. What a wonderful provider the Lord God is for His creatures!

The main burrow may be 500 feet long with branches and storage areas along the sides. The tunnels, which are always being lengthened, are about a foot below the surface, but go much deeper where the grass-lined den is placed. At the tunnel’s entrance a mound appears, but the tunnel itself is plugged and only opened when it is necessary to look for food or to let sunshine and fresh air in.

The pocket gopher’s digging opens up otherwise hard ground, allowing moisture to penetrate rather than run off. However, because they eat plants around their burrows they are not welcome guests to farmers who grow crops.

This is just one more of God’s underground creatures that show the wonders of His creation and the diversity of life He has created for this earth. The Psalmist was impressed with this when he wrote: “Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high, who humbleth Himself to behold the things that are... in the earth!” Psalms 113:5,6.

Do you know that loving One not only as the Creator, but also as your personal Saviour?

ML-09/23/1984

"He Died for Us"

Memory Verse: “For 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

The United States has five Great Lakes: Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. Each of these is large enough to have large ships going from port to port just like on an ocean. In fact, since all of these lakes are connected to each other and from Lake Ontario ships can reach the Atlantic Ocean through the Saint Lawrence Seay, the port cities on the Great Lakes are like ocean-port cities.

The boats that travel on the Great Lakes carry cargoes such as ore, coal, grain and other materials that are shipped in large quantities. These ships have crews and in some cases a few passengers. Years ago many people used these ships for travel before there were airplanes and good highway systems. It was on one of these ships that this story took place.

A ship named the Swallow was traveling from Detroit, Michigan to Buffalo, New York on Lake Erie. It carried a full load of tar, the crew and several passengers. One of the crew was John Maynard who as the pilot or helmsman had the responsibility of steering the ship. The captain would tell him the course to steer, and it was John’s job to follow the captain’s directions.

One day a frantic cry came from one of the crew, “Captain, there is a fire in the hold!”

“All hands on deck!” ordered the captain. “To your fire stations! Keep a steady course, John!” he ordered as he left the bridge to check the fire.

“Aye, aye, Captain,” replied John.

The trained crew fought the tar fire with all their skill, but they could not control it. Billows of black smoke rose from the back of the ship. The heat of the fire was so intense that the crew had to retreat to the front of the ship.

“How far are we from Buffalo?” an anxious passenger asked.

“About 45 minutes,” replied the captain.

Everyone but John Maynard was at the front of the ship. The forward motion of the ship kept the smoke and heat away from them. But this was not the case for John. The smoke and heat swirled up through the bridge where he held the wheel. But he knew that the safety of everyone on board depended on his being able to steer the ship into port.

“John Maynard!” shouted the captain through the radio.

“Aye, aye, sir, what course should I steer?” came the reply.

“East, south-east!” shouted the captain.

The fire became worse, but the shore was closer now. Only a few more minutes....

“John Maynard!” the captain called again.

“Aye, aye, sir,” came the answer through the raging flames and smoke.

“Can you hold on for five minutes more?” shouted the captain.

“I’ll hold on... with the help of God.”

Those were John Maynard’s last words. At that moment his hair and beard were burning and his clothes were on fire. His right hand was completely burned, and he steered only with his left hand. Yet because of his courage he was able to steer the ship to shore where everyone was rescued—everyone, that is, except John Maynard. He died before he could be rescued.

He was buried in a cemetery in Buffalo, New York, and a large marble, monument marks his grave. Engraved on it are these words:

To the Pilot, John Maynard,

from

the grateful passengers of the

Swallow

“He died for us.”

Have you ever thought about the Man who died for sinners like you and me? His name is Jesus and He died on Calvary’s cross. He suffered the punishment from God that we deserve, because He loves you and me. Have you accepted Him as your Saviour? Has His blood washed your sins away? The answer to these questions can be “yes” if you will turn to Him now and be saved. Let it be engraved on your heart, “He died for me!”

“For Christ... appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” Hebrews 9:24,26.

“Having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end.” John 13:1.

ML-09/30/1984

Let Him Take the Care

Just to leave in His dear hands

Little things—

All we cannot understand,

All that stings.

Just to let Him take the care

Sorely pressing;

Finding all we let Him bear

Changed to blessing.

F.R.H.

ML-09/30/1984

Tap on the Shoulder

They were a happy family on a holiday drive through the scenic Rocky Mountains. Two little children bounced in the back seat until at last they grew tired and gave in to a quiet sleep.

Presently the winding road brought them to a breathtaking view. An enormous gorge had been cut by a churning, powerful stream of water which was roaring over a waterfall below.

“This we must see!” the father exclaimed to the mother. “I think we can easily drive down there a ways and take a better look.”

Excited and thrilled, they stopped the car and jumped out to enjoy the majestic scene. Leaving the children sleeping in the car, they walked spellbound hand in hand nearer to the edge.

Tap, tap! He felt it clearly, a distinct tap on his shoulder. Whirling around rather startled, the young father saw to his horror—his own car rapidly gaining speed on its way to the edge of the gorge. The hand brake had not been set! He nearly flew across the ground in between and... yes, thank God, he was able to jump in and stop the car in time! The children were safe and still asleep.

Who tapped that father or the shoulder? Jesus spoke once when He was here on earth of little children, that “in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 18:10. Since no other human being was near we may safely assume that an angel assigned to the care these children had done the tapping. How very kind of God; it shows His loving care in action.

Little child, always remember that God loves you. However, you are growing up, and perhaps even now have reached the age where you know you will have to answer to Him for all you have thought, said and done. You have all those sins mounting up daily. Angels cannot save you from them. Sin will separate you forever from God, and payment must be made for them. Does He stop loving us because of all these naughty sins? No, absolutely not! God’s love was shown at its greatest, finest hour at Calvary’s cross. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 1:15. “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree.” 1 Peter 2:24. Then we read in all the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) how that God accepted His payment for sin and raised Him up from the dead, and He is now gone to the right hand of God in heaven above. Have you been saved from the punishment your sins deserve?

Bible Children

Jesus said: “Suffer the little children to come unto Me.” Mark 9:14.

ML-09/30/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: America's Lion, the Cougar

“The wild beasts of the field are Mine.... for the world is Mine, and the fullness thereof.” Psalms 50:11,12.

African lions do not live in America except in zoos. America’s lion is the cougar, which looks similar to an African female lion and is at home in South, Central and North America. It is often called a mountain lion as well as puma, catamount, panther and other names.

A full-grown cougar is about five feet long, plus its three-foot furry tail. It is an example of the Creator’s handiwork in its handsome appearance and ability to adapt to a great variety of living places. Some make their homes in mountains and others in forests, swamps, jungles and even in deserts.

Like a huge pussy cat, and purring like one when happy, the cougar has soft, dense fur, usually buff colored but sometimes reddish, silver-gray or even almost black. It has a pretty head with cat-like whiskers, sharp teeth, clear yellow eyes and upright ears. Its lithe and flexible body is supported by strong legs with large padded paws equipped with claws, usually hidden, but coming out as needle-sharp weapons when fighting. The cougar is lord of its surroundings, fearing nothing but hunting dogs, which chase it into a tree top where it is easily shot.

The Creator has given cougars excellent sight and hearing. Their food includes deer, mountain sheep, rabbits, coyotes, birds, rodents and an occasional fish. They avoid humans, but have been known to kill people, probably when desperate for food. Males and females live solitary lives and do not hunt together. Wandering over vast areas, they use rocky ledges for lookouts or hide on a limb over a game trail, leaping down on a passing victim.

In the springtime from one to five little cubs are born and are blind for about ten days. Only a few inches long they are as cute and playful as domestic kittens. Their yellowish fur is decorated with black spots which later disappear. The mother trains them for about a year and then leaves them on their own.

It is sad that the food supply of such a beautiful creature requires the death of others. When the Lord God created the animals all were at peace with each other and He “saw that it was good.” But Adam’s sin brought death with it, as the Bible verse states: “By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin” (Rom. 5:12)—death not only to man, but to every creature in the world.

But the time is coming (the millennium) when all animals will again live peacefully with each other. Before that time all who know the Lord Jesus as their Saviour will be taken to heaven, and God’s judgment will fall on those who have refused Him. How important it is to accept Him as your Saviour and Lord now, before it is too late. Those taken to heaven will look down on a peaceful world, “wherein dwelleth righteousness.” Have you taken this important step of accepting Him as your Saviour?

ML-09/30/1984

"No Talking in Class"

Memory Verse: “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

It was exciting to receive an invitation to Mark’s birthday party. In just a few days some of the boys in Miss Doll’s third-grade class were supposed to go to Mark’s house after school for a game of football and some cake and ice cream.

When Mark’s birthday finally came it seemed as if the arithmetic, reading, spelling and other lessons would never end. The boys were more interested in whispering about the fun planned for after school.

One of Miss Doll’s schoolroom rules was, “no talking in class.” One penalty for breaking the rule was to be kept after school. This is called a detention.

When the bell rang at 3:30 to dismiss school that day, I could only watch the group of boys walk down Glenmont Avenue toward Mark’s house. I couldn’t go with them because I had to stay in school. In my excitement I had disobeyed the “no talking in class” rule and was serving my detention.

God’s penalty for sin is far more severe— “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Ezek. 18:20. The Bible tells us that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. He is coming soon to take all the boys and girls and men and women whose sins have been washed away, to be with Himself. If you, a sinner, have never had your sins washed away by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, you will be left behind.

Miss Doll was kind and let me go after about 15 minutes, and I ran all the way to Mark’s house, getting there in time for most of the birthday party. The football game had just started.

Accept the Lord Jesus right now so you won’t be left behind when He comes again. “The Lord ... is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9. He is still waiting for you now, but He is coming very soon—maybe even today. After He comes for His own, you will have no more opportunity to be saved. Make sure that the Lord Jesus is your Saviour so you won’t be left behind. We cannot promise that you will have a second chance to be saved, as I had to go to Mark’s birthday party.

“Now is the accepted time ... now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2

ML-10/07/1984

1963 Volkswagen

What can you expect from a car 20 years old? The body of my 1963 Volkswagen had dents everywhere, but the car still ran quite well. Occasionally the stick gearshift would come out of its socket, and I would have to find my metric wrenches, remove the bolts, and put the shifting mechanism back where it belonged. Finally, that problem was fixed with wire from a clothes hanger. Another problem was the accelerator pedal. At times it would not depress very far, and although I would push harder it would not go down any farther.. Most of the time it would work just fine. In spite of its various problems, I was convinced that the car was in excellent condition.

Knowing that I easily could have problems requiring me to stop, I avoided busy streets, taking back roads to work, not wanting to risk driving on the freeway since the gas pedal problem seemed to be getting worse.

It was a beautiful morning and my thoughts were not on the gas pedal... then suddenly they were! I had been driving up an overpass of the freeway when the gas pedal would not go down far enough to keep the car moving. The car slowed to a stop and then began to roll backward—with traffic behind me!

Stepping on the brake, I slowly let the car drift backward off to the side of the road.

I had to make a telephone call and get a ride to work because of that old car. I had thought it would make it—that it would be dependable. Even though I thought it was a good car, there was really so much wrong with it that it should have been hauled off to the junkyard long ago.

That old Volkswagen reminds me of how many people depend on “junkyard material” to get them through life and into heaven: “Oh, I’m okay,” they say, “I’ll just patch up my life here and quit doing this... after all, no one is perfect—we’re all human.”

That Volkswagen wasn’t too bad either. It got me to work most of the time, could go as fast as 80 MPH if need be, had a few dents, and the inside was comfortable—overall it basically did the job. But you know, that just wasn’t good enough. Eventually I had to depend on someone else’s reliable car to get me to my final desired destination. Things like good works and turning over a new leaf are like patching up the old Volkswagen—they will never get us to the desired destination. The Bible tells.us, “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isa. 64:6), and “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. We need to depend on something other than “our best” to make us fit for heaven. The Lord Jesus Christ could say, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” John 14:6. There is no other way to heaven outside of the Lord Jesus Christ. He also said, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37. He will take our lives and make them new— “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17. There will never be any need for patchwork again.

ML-10/07/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: Millions of Crabs

“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.” Revelation 4:11.

There are so many kinds of saltwater, freshwater and land crabs that it would take many books to write about all of them. All have flat bodies, eyes at the end of stalks, and five pairs of legs covered with jointed shells. The two front legs are usually equipped with toothed pincers. Those that swim have flattened hind legs that work like paddles. Let’s consider just a few of them.

Hermit crabs, using empty shells of all kinds for their homes, sometimes carry poisonous sea anemones on their backs as protection from enemies. The anemone shares the crab’s food by reaching its tentacles into the crab’s mouth when it is feeding. Its poison normally would kill the crab, but when they live together it does not harm the crab. Isn’t that amazing? Only God could make this possible!

In somewhat the same way the cowboy crab of Hawaii carries an anemone in each of its two front claws to frighten its enemies and often joins the anemones in eating the food killed by their poison.

One called the sponge crab cuts out a piece of sponge just the right size and places it over its back as a disguise, using a special pair of legs given to it for this clever trick. Mole crabs bury themselves in the sand, leaving only their mouth parts and eye stalks exposed. Large numbers of them live together, getting food this way from outgoing waves.

Ghost crabs, sandy-colored to blend with the seashore, live in burrows on the beach. Leaving their homes at night to explore for food, they scurry back at dawn. Retiring for the day, they close the opening behind them so cleverly that no one would guess it was there. During the summer they store food for use when going underground in the fall, not to appear again until springtime, dressed in new suits.

Land crabs in the Samoan Islands live among rocks in the hills. Every October and November, exactly four days before the last quarter of the new moon, they travel down to the ocean in great numbers. Instead of going around rocks, tree stumps and even houses, they maintain a straight march, crawling right over them.

Many more of equal interest could be considered if space were available. Do you think the Lord, their Creator, cares about them? We know He does for the Bible tells us “all things were created by Him, and for Him: and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist [are provided for].” Colossians 1:16,17.

We, too, have been created by Him, and His care and love are over us at all times. He invites us to learn about Himself through His Holy Word, the Bible, and accept His Son, Jesus Christ, as our Saviour. Have you obeyed the Bible verse that says, “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth"? Ecclesiastes 12:1.

ML-10/07/1984

Above the Clouds and Lost

Memory Verse: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

It was a cold January day when Al Hansen taxied his single-engine Cessna toward the runway at the Eau Claire, Wisconsin airfield. Al was going to fly alone that day. It was not his first solo flight, but he had not had very many flights by himself. He was still considered a “student pilot.”

His plan for the flight was to fly to Rhinelander, Wisconsin and return, a round trip flight of about 250 miles.

“This looks like a great day for flying,” he thought as he waited for clearance from the control tower to take off. “A few clouds to the north, but they, don’t look too bad.”

Having received clearance, Al took off and climbed smoothly into the cold, still air. Turning to the northeast he climbed through 6000 feet. Reaching his flying altitude of 6600 feet, he leveled off. Then looking down, he saw that the “few clouds” had become a solid cloud cover underneath him. He could not see the ground. All he could see were clouds below and sky above. He was worried because he had never flown in conditions like this before, and he was not rated for instrument flight.

Al was scared, realizing the danger. He was alone in a plane, separated from the safety of being able to see the ground by a cloud layer, and did not know how to get through the layer. He made a right decision—he radioed for help.

Al recognized the difficulty he was in and called for help. There are people today who are in real danger because of sin, but they do not recognize their danger. Satan has “blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” 2 Corinthians 4:4.

Having kept these people from seeing their danger, Satan will keep them from doing what Al did—call for help. Help for the sinner is very near. The Lord Jesus said, “He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24.

Do you recognize that you are a sinner and need a Saviour? You have to admit this before you can be saved. Al could have flown for a long time in the wrong direction if he had not recognized that he was lost. A sinner, too, must recognize that he is lost, away from God and then God in His love and mercy can save him. “The Son of man [the Lord Jesus Christ] is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10.

Al’s radio call reached the air traffic control center at Minneapolis, Minnesota. Two controllers, Ron Carrick and Dick DeCramer, located Al’s plane on radar. Their job then was to come up with a plan to bring him down safely. They told Al to turn until he was headed back toward Eau Claire where breaks in the clouds were reported.

Meanwhile, a commercial pilot of a DC-9 taking off from Rhinelander volunteered to help guide Al to a break in the clouds. With the help of the controllers, the pilot was able to locate Al.

During the flight back toward Eau Claire, the engine of Al’s plane stopped twice. He was given instructions by the DC-9 pilot on how to start it. Just as a large opening appeared in the cloud cover, the engine quit again... this time he was out of gas! There was no way to start it. Al headed toward the ground, having no place to land, no fuel and no power.

Could it be that Al was “almost saved” but now would crash so close to the safety of an airport? Had he waited too long before turning back? Had the pilot and the controllers not been clear enough in their instructions?

One of the controllers said to the other, “He will be killed... that’s hilly country with snow on the ground, power lines and trees!”

Have you been told how to be saved but have not followed the simple instructions? Have you postponed a decision with, “not now,” or “I don’t need that,” or “I’ll wait until I’m older"? The Bible warns those who put off this most important decision: “Boast not thyself of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Proverbs 27:1. None of us know if we will be here tomorrow. We who are saved know that the Lord Jesus is returning momentarily to take to heaven all who know Him as their Saviour. Then all opportunity to be saved will be gone forever.

Won’t you accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour right now? He loves you and wants you to accept His offer of salvation. He died on the cross for sinners. There He took the punishment for the sins of all who would believe in Him. His blood has washed away all their sins. He has done everything He can do to save you. All you have to do is accept Him as your Saviour.

As Al started down he was sure he would never be able to land the plane safely. The only noise was the rush of the air outside and the quick instructions on how to land a powerless plane, being given by the DC-9 pilot still circling above him.

“Nothing but hills, trees and snow,” thought Al as he tried to pick out a spot to land. He picked out, a road near Rib Lake, about halfway between Eau Claire and Rhinelander. On this deserted road he safely landed his plane. The DC-9 pilot radioed to the Minneapolis controllers that he was safely down, out of the plane and walking!

Yes, Al had guided his plane to a safe landing, using the instructions that were radioed to him. The only way that you can be saved is to follow God’s instructions. They are found in His Word, the Bible: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.

Al Hansen was happy and thankful to be safely on the ground again. He wrote a letter to the pilot and the controllers thanking them for their help. He knew that without them he would have been killed.

We who know the Lord Jesus as our Saviour should thank Him daily for His salvation. Without His work on the cross there is no way that we could have been saved.

“Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood... to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever.” Revelation 1:5,6.

ML-10/14/1984

The Little Anchor

I am sure that most of you know what an anchor looks like and that it is used to keep ships from drifting. When thrown overboard the hooks on the anchor catch on rocks or other objects on the bottom of the ocean and hold the ship.

Some years ago a ship going from England to Turkey was caught in a storm. Reaching a harbor port, the captain signaled for the anchor to be let down. However, the wind was so strong that the anchor began to drag. It could not catch hold of the sea bottom. A second anchor was let down, but it could not get a grip on the sandy bottom either, so did not help to hold the ship. Little by little the ship was drifting closer to the shore. Soon it would be grounded.

There was one anchor left, but it was a small one. No one thought it would do any good, but since it was their last hope the captain ordered it to be let down. Much to their surprise the chain tightened and the ship stopped drifting! The little anchor held, and the ship was able to ride out the storm in safety.

The next day when the sailors lifted the anchors, the two big anchors came up easily because they had never caught on the bottom. But raising the little anchor was a different matter. The crew worked for a long time and finally were able to get the anchor to move, but it was very heavy. Something was coming up with it!

When it was finally raised out of the water, the sailors saw that the little anchor had caught onto a huge anchor belonging to an old sailing ship that either had sunk or had lost its anchor there. The huge anchor had caught on a rock. It was this huge anchor caught on a rock that had steadied their ship. The little anchor had hooked onto it and then all the strength of the rock belonged to the little anchor.

What are you using as an anchor for your soul? Is it something you hope will hold and steady you? Hope is not firm and it will not hold by itself. It has to be set in something firm, just like the little anchor was set in the rock. You need to set your hope in the Rock—The Lord Jesus Christ. Only He can save you, hold you and protect you from the storm of punishment that your sins deserve. Won’t you have Him as your Rock by accepting Him as your Saviour?

“An anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast.” Hebrews 6:19.

“Thou art my rock.” Psalms 31:3.

We have an anchor that keeps the soul

Steadfast and sure while the billows roll;

Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,

Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love.

ML-10/14/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Bird Called a Booby

“Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.” Matthew 6:26

Early-day sailors gave this bird the name booby because its strange antics seemed stupid to them. There are several varieties, but the most outstanding is one called the blue-footed booby. Well named, its broad, four-toed, webbed feet and short, stubby, bare legs are a bright enamel blue. They look as if they were painted. Its beak is blue as well, but not the same bright shade. Its wide wings are brown and its breast and underparts are pure white—a very pretty bird.

The Creator has well adapted the booby to its kind of life, living near the coasts and on nearby islands of the Pacific Ocean off Central America and Mexico. Waterproof plumage allows it to rest on the ocean surface as well as dive for fish. Wide, strong wings take it hundreds of miles over the sea and, beating rapidly, provide a power dive to catch a fish. At the last second before hitting the water the wings are pulled tightly against its body, its nostrils automatically close so no water enters, and its strong, saw-toothed beak makes the catch. But it doesn’t always need to go under water since it can catch flying fish while they are in the air.

Colonies of thousands of these birds make nests only three or four feet apart on the bare ground, where three or four chicks are raised in each nest. These hatch out of the eggs naked, but in two or three weeks are covered with white feathers and their feet begin to show the blue color. Within three or four months they are fully developed and can feed themselves.

One thing that caused early sailors to call them boobies was their performance at nesting time. The male first picks out a nesting spot. Then he tries to attract a female by performing a peculiar hopping dance. He puts one blue foot ahead of the other and waves it at her, making loud whistles while pointing his beak skyward. If the female likes this performance she joins in, both stopping occasionally to bow, touch bills, point skyward and finally perform a stiff-legged walk together. After this the nest is completed and family life begins.

It is understandable how these activities seem humorous and even clumsy, especially when great numbers are engaged in them at the same time, but they are full of meaning to the blue-footed boobies and an important part of their courtship and the raising of little ones.

For thousands of years these birds, hidden away in these remote spots, were never seen by man. But the Creator has always cared for them, as the Bible verse says, “These wait all upon Thee.... [what] Thou givest them they gather: Thou openest Thine hand, they are filled with good.” Psalms 104:27,28. The Lord God also provides for all mankind, and we should thank Him often for His care.

ML-10/14/1984

A Dog Named Bucky

Memory Verse: “As it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many.” Hebrews 9:27, 28

Bucky was a dog who lived in West Virginia. Although he was a big dog he was gentle with the three children in the family who owned him. He was gentle with the children in the neighborhood, too. Bucky even liked the mailman. He would follow along with the mailman on his rounds, if he could slip out of his collar.

Now it sounds like Bucky was everybody’s friend, doesn’t it? But he wasn’t... and this is what made his family and the neighborhood children so sad last summer.

Bucky had a problem that got him into lots of trouble—he hated cats. You might think that this is normal for a dog. But according to a court judge in Huntington, Bucky would have to die for killing cats.

The judge had listened to several neighbors’ reports that Bucky had killed at least 50 cats, including their own. He also heard from the dog catcher that Bucky was so clever they could not catch him anymore. The judge also listened to reports from Bucky’s owners and friends of what a nice dog he was with people. But the judge decided that Bucky was guilty of killing cats, and he would have to be put to death.

We don’t hear very often of an animal being taken to court to decide if it is guilty of doing something wrong. But this story of Bucky makes us think of a court case in the future—maybe yours. In God’s Word in Revelation 20:11-15 the Lord Jesus Christ stands as the Judge who will decide on where a large group of people will spend eternity—heaven or hell. These are the people who refused to accept Him as their Saviour, and they must be judged according to their works. In spite of their supposed good works, there is no hope of freedom for these people, because their sins were never blotted out by the blood of the Lord Jesus. They all have the same sentence pronounced on them —“cast into the lake of fire.”

No one wants to hear this terrible sentence pronounced by the Lord Jesus Christ. But if you die in your sins (because you refused to accept Him as your Saviour), you will stand before Him as your judge and hear this sentence.

Bucky had been brought before a judge who found him guilty. For any who want to live in heaven with the Lord Jesus, we must not have any sin. However, all of us have sinned. The Bible says, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. So how is it possible to get to heaven without our sins? God has provided a way—through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ and the cleansing power of His blood.

God knew we needed a Saviour, and because He loves us so much He sent the Lord Jesus down to this world. “For 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. He went to Calvary’s cross and was punished (not for His own sins because He was sinless) for the sins of any who would accept Him as their Saviour. Have you asked Him to wash your sins away?

In the end, Bucky did not have to die. Someone who read his story in the newspaper offered to give him a new home where there were no cats living nearby. He moved to another county in West Virginia and became the mascot for a sportsman’s club. He escaped the punishment because of the love and concern of someone else. He was given a “new life.”

We, too, can only escape the punishment our sins deserve by accepting the Lord Jesus as our Saviour. Won’t you accept Him right now? He promises to give you a “new life.”

“It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27.

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3:36.

“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.

ML-10/21/1984

In the Raspberry Patch

In the cool of an overcast July morning, Mother and her 15-year-old daughter Sally hurried to pick all the raspberries before the sun broke through and it turned hot. Sally seemed to show somewhat less enthusiasm than Mother, although she loved the plump juicy raspberries.

“Mother,” Sally said laughing, “there you go again! I really think you would stand on your head to catch one silly raspberry before it drops. See, your scarf is caught... and now you’ve scratched your arm! Why do you worry about one raspberry dropping when there are so many? I don’t think we’ll ever finish picking them. What is one raspberry more or less when there are so many?

Loosening her scarf and glancing at the scratch on her arm, Mother smiled a little sheepishly. “You know, I’ve wondered that myself sometimes; but it seems a shame for beautifully juicy fruit to lie in the dirt and rot. I just can’t let them fall.”

“Humph!” retorted Sally. “It doesn’t bother me!”

Mother’s thoughts took a serious turn and after a few minutes she asked, “Sally, what if the Lord had felt that way about you and me? I’m glad it wasn’t too much trouble for Him to concern Himself about silly Sally and stubborn Mother who showed no desire to do anything but go on in their own sinful ways. He didn’t say, ‘Why bother with them when there are many other people who might be less trouble to Me?’ Like the wonderful Shepherd He is, our Saviour went out, searched for, and found the lost sheep!”

“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.” Sally reverently quoted John 10:11. “Yes, Mother, I am so glad He found me. It’s really wonderful knowing, too, that ‘the Father Himself’ loves us (John 16:27). Also, ‘All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me, and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out’ (John 6:37). Even you, Mother, let the poorly formed and stunted raspberries fall to the ground, but the Lord Jesus doesn’t. It seems as if He especially cared about people with problems, like the poor, the blind, and the widows.”

Have you met the seeking Saviour, that Good Shepherd who wants to carry you home to heaven on His shoulders?

“The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10.

ML-10/21/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Vicious Wolverine - Part 1

“For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are Mine.” Psalms 50:10,11.

In the northern woods of the United States as well as in the wooded parts of Canada and Alaa, lives the mean-tempered wolverine. It makes its den in a cave, under a fallen tree, or under an overhanging rock, lining it with leaves, grass and moss.

The wolverine is four feet long, weighs from 30 to 50 pounds, and has a dark-brown shaggy coat with a few light streaks through it. It looks something like a small bear. In fact, because of this and the strong odor it gives off, it is sometimes called a skunk bear. Its frost-resistant fur is used for clothing by people in very cold regions where frost buildup around the face and head of the wearer creates problems. Its good insulating qualities also help retain the wearer’s body warmth.

Its black-muzzled, broad round head is armed with a vicious set of tough razor-sharp teeth. It also is armed with short but powerful legs, having four-inch, jet-black paws with long, spike-like ivory claws. In winter its feet are thickly covered with hair, becoming like snowshoes to help it travel over snow.

The wolverine is the scourge of the woods and is considered the most destructive animal. Unusually strong, it is feared by all animals and even avoided by those larger than itself. A meat eater, it will devour almost anything alive or dead and finds much of its food by digging foxes, rabbits and marmots out of their burrows. But if these are not available in winter, it goes after deer or elk weakened and slowed down by deep snow. Its strong jaws can crush the leg bones of a deer, making it defenseless and easy to kill. A wolverine can drag a dead animal more than double its own weight for several miles.

It will even challenge a cougar, wolf or bear that is feasting on captured food. The wolverine will, if hungry, go right up to these larger and more powerful animals, growl and snarl at them, displaying its sharp teeth and claws. Most of these bigger animals could defeat the wolverine if a fight resulted, but to avoid a bad time they will usually leave the food to this fiery challenger. If a fight does result the wolverine does not retreat and as a result will most likely be killed.

This bad-tempered beast reminds us of the warning given in the Bible — “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary [enemy] the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8. It is only by putting our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and keeping close to His care that we can overcome Satan, the evil one.

(to be continued)

ML-10/21/1984

"Boat People"

Memory Verse: “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” Isaiah 45:22

Slowly the ship steamed out of sight, and those on the small fishing boat stopped waving to attract attention. Ai-My Chau, her five-year-old son Fun and the others crowded on the small boat sat down again. This was not the first ship that had passed by them without stopping... and it would not be the last.

These people were “boat people,” fleeing Vietnam when communism swept through their country. Ai-My and her son had made secret arrangements to meet a small boat at a certain point on the coast. There the sampan picked them up and took them to a larger (50-foot) fishing boat which would take them to Malaysia.

Even meeting the sampan was dangerous. To avoid being discovered, the passengers would be taken out to the fishing boats between 10:00 at night and 5:00 in the morning. No luggage was allowed.

They waited on shore until after midnight before the sampan finally picked them up. Then, after much difficulty, they reached the fishing boat where along with 46 other people they started for Malaysia.

These people had one object before them—to flee communism and be free. It meant leaving everything behind, but for them it was worth it to have freedom.

The slavery that communism forces on people is nothing compared to the slavery of sin. Satan is an expert at keeping sinners from seeing the “freedom” that the Lord Jesus Christ offers to any who will accept Him as their Saviour. Satan uses all sorts of tricks either to convince the sinner that he does not need a Saviour or to get him to put it off until later. Yet God says, “now is the accepted time... now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor. 6:2. He is telling you not to put off accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour. He loves you and wants you to take that step of faith now. Turn to the Lord Jesus, confess your need of Him as the only Saviour of sinners, and He will save you. He loves you so much that He fulfilled all that was required for you to be saved. His blood shed on the cross can wash all your sins away. Then as a child of God you will have a citizenship in heaven. Won’t you take that step today?

Some days later more problems developed on the fishing boat. The engine had quit, a make-shift sail was the only means of travel, and their food and water had run out. Ai-My decided she would do what she had done when they had been standing on the shore waiting for the sampan to come... she prayed. She did not know the Lord Jesus Christ as her Saviour. In fact, she had never even heard of Him. Yet she knew that there must be a God, and it was only God who could help them now. She prayed for rain... and it rained that night, enough so that using the sail to catch the rain they filled two large water cans. “Yes,” thought Ai-My, “there is Someone watching over me.”

Many more hardships were endured by those on the small boat. For 30 days they drifted with the winds and tides, and 20 of those days they were without food. At least 30 ships passed by them, either not willing to help them or not able to help them. Finally, help did come.

Today there are many sinners drifting on life’s ocean who are looking for help from many different sources. They try different things—attending church or Sunday school, being a good neighbor, giving their time and money to the poor, and other things. These are like the ships that passed by the “boat people.” These things cannot help a sinner because his real need is to be freed from his sin. There is only one person, the Lord Jesus Christ, who can solve this problem. God sent Him into this world so “that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:17.

When the ship that finally rescued Ai-My and the others came over to them, do you think the people on the drifting fishing boat told them to go away? Do you think they refused to be rescued? No, of course not. Yet there are sinners today who are refusing the Lord Jesus. They are looking for some other way, not the simple grace and mercy offered by the Lord Jesus. He says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6. Do not refuse the only Person who can save you from your sins!

The ship that picked up Ai-My and the other “boat people” took them to Hong Kong. There they were placed in a refugee camp, and it was there that Ai-My first heard about the Lord Jesus. A missionary told her about God and His Son Jesus Christ who came to earth to save sinners. “Jesus Christ loves you and He was the one taking care of you,” the missionary told her.

“That’s the God I was praying to,” said Ai-My. “I knew He was there answering my prayers, but I didn’t know His name.”

“Listen to what God is saying to you,” the missionary continued, reading from his Bible. “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” Isa. 45:22.

The missionary continued reading from the Bible, explaining to Ai-My about God’s perfect creation, how sin came in and spoiled it, and as a result all of us are sinners. Then he continued, “The good news is that God’s Son Jesus took the punishment for the sins of all who would accept Him as their Saviour. When Jesus was dying on the cross, He was dying for sinners just like Ai-My. If you just accept Him then you, too, can have the everlasting life that only He can give.”

Ai-My was saved right there in the refugee camp. Her son Fun was later saved, too. They now live in Portland, Oregon, where Ai-My loves to tell others about the God who loves the “boat people.” He loves you, too. Won’t you accept Him as your Saviour?

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.” Titus 3:5.

ML-10/28/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Vicious Wolverine - Part 2

“Seek the Lord and His strength, seek His face continually. Remember His marvelous works that He hath done.” 1 Chron. 16:11,12.

The wolverine is not fast, but is determined when hunting. If it cannot overtake its prey quickly it may follow it day after day until the pursued animal is exhausted and finally caught. It is usually a night hunter and when out in daylight it hides quickly when a human is near. In addition to the flesh of animals and birds, it goes after birds’ eggs and wild fruit. Honey, too, appeals to it. Ripping beehives open, it is unconcerned about the bees because its long, shaggy hair protects it from stings.

While not challenging people openly, it seems to delight in stealing bait from traps and devouring any animal caught in them. After cleaning out one trap it usually proceeds along the trap line and tears to shreds other captured animals, making their fur worthless.

At other times it breaks into cabins, tearing bars off doors, ripping shingles or sheet metal from roofs, pulling screens off, and smashing windows—anything to get inside. There it does terrific damage, eating available food and destroying what it cannot eat. A mischievous raccoon will occasionally do this, too, but the wolverine is worse, smashing lamps, pulling shelves down, tearing clothes apart, and ruining other things by sprang with its bad-smelling musk. Hasn’t sin made it an awful creature!

Each year in May or June two or three young cubs are born in a well-hidden underground den. They are blind at birth, with yellow woolly fur and weigh less than a pound. They are carefully protected by the mother, who nurses them for several weeks and then teaches them hunting skills. While growing up, their playfulness quickly shows their true nature, for they are rough with each other, having mock battles and acting like little wildcats. After a year or more with the mother, they are able to capture game and a few months later go out on their own.

The wolverine is a wicked destroyer and reminds us of the world’s greatest enemy—Satan himself. He is a destroyer also, and his object is to capture the hearts of any people foolish enough to be tempted by him, leading them on to a godless and hopeless life. But strength to resist him is expressed in the Bible verse: “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Rom. 8:31,32.

How good it is, as our opening verse states, to turn to the Lord Jesus as the One to save us from Satan’s power, cleanse our sins, and who alone can give strength to resist the attacks of that evil one. If you have not yet done this, why not turn to Him as your Saviour today?

ML-10/28/1984

Are You Adopted?

Memory Verse: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6

Ted always felt the chilling grip of the prison walls as he walked into the state penitentiary, but still, he returned nearly every week. In his heart was a deep desire to help the men behind bars who were bound, not with actual metal chains, but with the chains of sin. He knew the Lord Jesus Christ was the only person who could break those chains of sin.

As the prisoners walked into the chapel that evening, Ted noticed that one man’s face looked quite different compared with the glum expressions of the others. Jim’s face was “alive” with a glow of joy in his eyes. Ted felt that something special must have happened to Jim. “Perhaps he is going to receive a parole or something,” he thought to himself.

Later, after the meeting, Jim came up to Ted and said he’d like to tell Ted something about his past life, and this is the story he related: Messages of the “When I was only five years old my parents deserted us kids. So we were cared for in foster homes. As time went by I was moved from one place to another. Sometimes a couple would come to visit these places, looking for a child to adopt so they could have a boy or girl to raise and love as their own child.

“As I watched these people looking over the group, I always hoped that I’d be the one they would adopt and give a home to, so I’d have someone to call ‘Mom and Dad.’ As the years passed that hope grew into a burning desire to ‘belong.’ I would ask the matron, Will somebody ever adopt me?’ She would have to say, ‘Well, I just don’t know, Jim, maybe someday you will be chosen.’ But it never happened.

“In all those foster homes no one ever told me about Jesus. The only thing I remember in the way of prayer was what one house mother taught me—Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray Thee Lord my soul to keep. Amen.’ It seemed the Lord answered that simple prayer in spite of all.

“As I grew older I got into trouble and was put in detention homes, then in reform schools, then in jails, ‘till finally I landed in the penitentiary. God saved me about two years ago while I was being held for trial in the county jail. A man came there with a Bible and spoke to us of the love of the Lord Jesus Christ, and I accepted Him as my Saviour.

“The other day as I was reading in my Bible in Romans 8:14-17, it suddenly dawned on me, I finally had been chosen! I was adopted into the family of God, and God is my Father. I am His child! No one else would have me as theirs, but God adopted me, and I belong to Him.”

We had a happy time together there in that prison as we gladly talked of the wonderful promise that all who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as their own Saviour are adopted into God’s family, are His children, and soon will inherit their home in heaven forever!

“For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, besides Thee, what He hath prepared for him that waiteth for Him.” Isaiah 64:4.

ML-11/04/1984

"Now, Mommy!"

She sat safely strapped in her car seat beside Mother. These freeway rides were sometimes frightening with speeding cars and roaring trucks rushing along down four or five lanes. Lucy was only 3 ½ years old and usually took comfort in her soft blanket and thumb at these times. Today she heard a sharp “oh-oh!” from Mother and looked ahead to see a parade of red tail lights glaring their warning to stop. “Trouble ahead,” murmured Mother, slowing to a near stop with the others. She reached a reassuring hand over to Lucy. The little girl’s fear was partly overcome by her curiosity, and she was craning to see.

“Did the cars go bang? Ooooh, Mommy!” The lane in which they were traveling had led them right beside a horribly mangled car. Beside it on the pavement lay the body of a man, bloody and still.

“Don’t look, Lucy dear,” Mother was saying. But Lucy had seen... and for miles, even after reaching home, she kept seeing the bloody, still body of the poor man.

“Will he die, Mommy? Oh, Moy, will they take him home to die?”

Mother wanted to comfort her little girl, but she knew she should speak plainly. “He might already be dead, or he may recover in the hospital. We hope he will recover, but we do not know. Lucy honey, you know that children sometimes are hurt in these accidents or just on a street near home. That is why it is so important to ask the Lord Jesus to wash all your naughty sins away. Then if you should be called to die suddenly, you can go straight to the loving arms of Jesus who died for us who trust in Him. You do know that you are naughty at times and need your heart washed clean of sin, don’t you, Lucy?”

“Yes, Mommy, I know. I want to do it... now, Mommy. I want ’em washed away NOW!”

“Then just kneel down now with me and tell the Lord Jesus that you want Him to wash your sins away and be your Saviour. Tell Him that you believe He will do just what He says in the Bible. ‘Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.’ 2 Corinthians 6:2. ‘Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.’ Psalms 51:7.”

Lucy sweetly and simply said the most important words of her young life. Getting up from her knees, she beamed, “Mommy, when I wake up my eyes in heaven, I’m going to give the Lord Jesus a great big hug!”

“We love Him, because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19. Also, the apostle Peter says, “Unto you therefore which believe He is precious.” 1 Peter 2:7.

Young? Yes. But Jesus said, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto Me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:14.

ML-11/04/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Colorful Parrot Fish

“Thy way is in the sea, and Thy path in the great waters. The sea is His, and He made it.” Psalms 77:19 and 95:5.

The interesting parrot fish received its name because of its bright green and red colors and its parrotlike jaw. Great schools of them, numbering a million or more, live in southern oceans. The mouth of this fish is like a parrot’s beak. It has about 50 blue-white teeth which are so strong it can pull apart and chew hard, brittle coral to get at the tasty algae found in it. A mature fish chews enough coral each year to make 30 pounds of sand. Over the centuries this has resulted in many pretty sandy beaches along the shores of Australia and other countries. But, sad to say, much beautiful coral is destroyed by them since they do not distinguish between rare, priceless coral and ordinary coarse varieties.

In June the parrot fish get a strong urge to leave the quiet, shallow, protected reef where they live and swim into areas where the water may be 80 feet deep or more. There they meet with millions more of their kind that have obeyed the same God-given instinct. They all become excited and soon they are swimming violently around until, as if by signal, all dash to the surface and then immediately turn down toward the bottom. As they descend, the females release millions of eggs which the males cover with a substance called milt.

This procedure is repeated many times by different groups at these meeting places. Soon it is over and the group breaks up, each pair going back to the quiet waters of their home, leaving innumerable masses of eggs to hatch out later on the open sea.

One variety of this fish blows a cocoon of mucus around itself at night time, carefully leaving small holes for breathing. This gives them an appearance of having been carefully dressed in silk nightgowns, which they discard in the morning, repeating the press each night. Although it is uncertain why they do this, it is no doubt a provision made by the Creator for their protection from night-prowling enemies.

Does the Lord God, their Creator, care about parrot fish? We may be sure that He does, for the Bible tells us, speaking of all the fish in the seas, “These wait all upon Thee, that Thou mayest give them their meat [food] in due season. That Thou givest them they gather: Thou openest Thine hand, they are filled with good.” Psalms 104:27,28.

Of more importance to us, we also know from the Bible that in greater measure His love has been shown to all the people of the world. The Psalmist joyfully expressed, “How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand.” Psalms 139:17,18. We should gratefully thank Him every day for His wonderful love and care over us.

ML-11/04/1984

Forest Adventure

Memory Verse: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6

Toni Marie and her younger brother Bradley could hardly wait! It was the Fourth of July and their family was going on a picnic to the mountains to fish and play! Daddy remarked as he put his fishing rod in the camper that he probably would not use it, because the streams were low from very dry conditions in the mountains. “We won’t need to worry, Mother, the children can’t drown in the little trickles we’ll find there.”

Dad was right about the streams. However, he found a few pools worth a try with his rod. The quiet of the mountains and the fresh pine-scented breezes were calming to city nerves, and everyone was having a relaxing time. After a good lunch Mother settled down in a chair with a book, Dad was fishing while Toni and her brother waered downstream. At first they made little dams and played with such things as their imaginations came up with. After some time Toni got tired of these engineering projects, and seeing a pretty rock above, decided to explore a little on her own. So busy was her little brother in his play that he did not even see her leave.

Toni found one thing after another that interested her, but each new adventure took her farther away from the picnic site. Back at the camp Mother began to feel uneasy at not having heard the children for some time. At her request Dad called out with a mighty “halloo!” Bradley answered not too far off, and the parents again relaxed. It was not until another hour perhaps that Bradley trudged back, muddy but happy, and reminded Mother of the cookies left from lunch. “Okay, Bradley,” she replied. “Here, take a few back to Toni. She probably sent you anyway.”

“But, Mamma, Toni went away. She’s... gone.”

When they asked him. When? where? and why? He just shrugged. After all he was very young.

So began a twelve-hour search which lasted through the long, dark night and into the morning hours. Rangers and volunteers were terribly concerned that they find Toni quickly, for the forest was thick and was home to many mountain lions and deadly rattlers—not to mention coyotes and other wild creatures.

As the afternoon wore on and darkness began to creep in, Toni had begun to try to find her way back to the camper. Do you think she could find her way? No, she was

Like a little wandering lamb,

Lost upon the hills....

Where the hungry lion hides,

Where the fiery serpent glides.

Oh, she was not aware of any lions or snakes, for she had not seen any. Even the rangers remarked later that it was only a miracle that in all of her stumbling about she had not been bitten by a rattlesnake. Toni had wandered for a long time, called over and over and over again, and, yes... cried. We do not know if she prayed.

At last, she curled up exhausted, under a huge tree and fell asleep. It was there that kind Jim Fairchild of the rescue unit found her safe and sound. What a friend in need he was, and how wonderful his strong arms must have felt as he wrapped her in a warm blanket and held her tight!

Toni, just like us, wanted to wander on her own. Satan, “the fiery serpent,” knows how to lure us out into his world with interesting things and pleasures. And there we wander, hopelessly lost in sin, unless rescued from sure disaster ahead. Unlike Toni who called and no one heard her, you may call to the Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus, who always hears. His own words spoken when He was here on earth were, “The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10. If you do not want Him, if you love to wander in sin and refuse to call upon Him, then you will some day feel the terrible “sting” in death. The Bible says, “The sting of death is sin.” 1 Corinthians 15:56. “If ye believe not that I am He” (the Saviour), Jesus said in John 8:24, “ye shall die in your sins.” Then to die in your sins would mean that you must bear the punishment for them all alone—in the lake of fire. But right now one look and call in faith to the Lord Jesus will take them all away, for “Christ... His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree.” 1 Peter 2:21,24.

Will you wander on, lost in sin, until it is too late?

ML-11/11/1984

Forty-Six Years of Guilt

How would you like to live with a guilty feeling for over 46 years? And it was over just a cracker with peanut butter. If Arthur only had known about the verse in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,” he would not have been distressed for all those years.

Arthur was just a first grader back in 1938. Like many children he liked to carry a snack to school. One day Arthur’s mother gave him some crackers with peanut butter to take to school. For safe keeping Arthur gave them to his teacher. Later that morning when Arthur was ready for his snack, he found that it had disappeared from the teacher’s desk. Someone must have taken the crackers!

Arthur’s teacher told him to do a foolish thing. She told him to smell the breath of each of his classmates to decide who could have eaten the peanut butter and crackers. Arthur felt he had to accuse someone, so he named Viola, even though he did not think she ate them.

Poor Viola was so upset she cried and cried and was unable to come back to school for several days. Now, 46 years later, Arthur placed an ad in a large newspaper asking Viola to forgive him. He hoped she would see the ad.

Many people today are just like Arthur. They know that they are sinners and “hope” that God will forgive them. What they need to know is that God has already provided a way so they can be forgiven. It is by confessing our need of a Saviour and accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as the only way to be saved. “I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.” Psalms 32:5.

Have you asked the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive your sins? Have you accepted Him as your Saviour? If not won’t you do so right now?

Arthur said that 46 years later he could still picture Viola’s face in front of him as though it were yesterday. Arthur was unable to forget Viola’s face, and for any who have not accepted the Lord Jesus as their Saviour, there will come a time when they will be unable to forget the face of the Lord Jesus Christ (Rev. 22:10) and it will be a fearful remembrance. But all of us who know Him as our Saviour have the happy hope of seeing Him face to face.

ML-11/11/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Beautiful Leopard

“Can [a person]... change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.” Jeremiah 13:23.

Leopards live in parts of Africa, Arabia, China, India and Sri Lanka (Ceylon). They are among the most perfect members of the cat family, graceful and beautiful in their spotted furs. Most beautiful of all is the Asian, or snow leopard of China and Manchuria.

The leopard prefers to hunt alone, its tawny color and spotted pattern blending with the grasses of the prairies. This enables it to crawl through brush undetected by its intended victims. Fiercer than a lion and more cunning than a tiger, with its muscular body, strong limbs and jaws it can carry in its mouth an animal weighing half as much as itself. Holding tightly to its prey, it is strong enough to leap five feet to a tree limb and continue upward as much as 25 feet before feasting on it and leaving what it cannot eat for a later meal.

The Creator has provided it with excellent sight, smell and hearing. It is extremely patient in hunting impalas, antelopes, rabbits, etc. Selecting a victim, it may watch it for an hour or more before beginning its stalk. Then it creeps toward it until after making a swift final dash and big leap, the catch is made. At other times it may stretch out on a big limb over a game trail, entirely motionless, until something comes along, then it jumps down and takes its prize. If nothing comes by it may take a nap while up there. Killing of other animals seems cruel, but these are usually weak or sickly ones, and removing them from a herd is really beneficial to all.

Kittens are born in a cave, hollow tree, or den underneath a big rock, and the mother has the responsibility of feeding and raising them. After four months she teaches them to hunt and to take care of themselves. About two months later they leave and are on their own, probably never having seen their father.

The question asked at the heading of this article has only one answer: a person can neither change the color of his skin, nor can the leopard alter his spots. The remainder of the verse says, in effect, if you could change your skin or the leopard change his spots, then you could also change from being sinful to being good. But the Bible tells us “there is none that doeth good” and that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:12,23.

How then can we have these sins taken care of so that God will accept us? This is a most important question, and the answer is only found in the Bible: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9. This is possible because Christ died for the sins of all who accept Him as their Saviour. Believing on Him is called being “born again,” and everyone with this new life belongs to God as His child and is assured of spending eternity in heaven. Do you have this assurance?

ML-11/11/1984

An Unheeded Warning

Memory Verse: “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12

In the picture above you see a ferry boat on the Buckingham canal in the province of Andhra Pradesh in southeastern India. It is an important canal, beginning at the Krishna river near the city of Vijayawada, and flowing 250 miles to the bay of Bengal near Madras. It was built about 130 years ago, and is still used both for irrigation and for drinking water by many towns and villages along its course. The British engineer who designed it was Sir Arthur Cotton. He was a good engineer who also loved the gospel of the grace of God, and encouraged many foreign missionaries to come to India to tell the story of God’s love.

Since the canal is about 90 feet wide in most places and up to 18 feet deep, it is necessary to have ferry boats to cross it at various places. The ferry pictured above is at the village of Vaddeswaram, and is used constantly by people going to their work in the fields in the morning, and then returning home at the end of the day. It is a cleverly-designed ferry, for it does not require any work, by man or otherwise, to take it across the canal. It is simply attached by a strong cable to a large stake in the middle of the canal. By altering how the cable is attached to the ferry boat, the slow current of the canal is made to do the work.

The carrying capacity of the ferry boat Isaiah 15 persons, and there is a sign clearly indicating this both on the boat and on both banks of the canal. However, it is not uncommon for up to 40 people to use the ferry boat at one time.

On September 1, 1983 a large number of villagers crowded at the ferry to cross the canal. About 55 people pushed their way onto the ferry and asked to be taken across. Because of the danger of carrying so many people, the ferryman refused and warned them that to carry such a load would be taking too great a risk. But none would get off. They reminded him that the normal capacity of the boat had often been exceeded before, and nothing had happened. Again the ferryman refused, and to emphasize his strong disapproval he got off the boat and sat down on the bank. The crowd became very impatient and began to curse him. Finally, he reluctantly came back to the ferryboat when he saw that nothing would make them believe him.

How foolish of people to risk their lives just to try to save a few minutes of their time! Yet how many there are in the world today who are taking a far more serious risk, not only with their lives, but with their never-dying souls. God has warned us faithfully in His Word, the Bible, of coming judgment. In Acts 17:31 we read, “He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained.” Yet how many there are who are going on, ignoring the warnings God has given and convincing themselves that everything will be all right.

The boat began its slow, drifting ride across the canal, moving with difficulty because of the heavy load. About halfway across, the cable suddenly broke. The people were not balanced evenly on the boat, and it began to tilt sharply to one side. The people panicked and it overbalanced completely and turned over, spilling everyone into the water. The few who would have been able to swim to shore were caught hold of in panic by others who could not swim. Within 30 minutes 50 of the 55 people on the boat were drowned, most of them less than 50 feet from shore. Only five persons and the ferryman were able to escape.

What a tragedy, you may well say! Yet just as there was a way to avoid it, so God in His love and mercy has provided a way of escape from coming judgment. We all deserve God’s judgment because of our sins, but God loved us so much that He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die for us and to shed His blood in order to wash away our sins. “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many.” Hebrews 9:28. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7. Have you accepted the way that God has made to wash away your sins so that you will not fall under the coming judgment?

The government conducted a thorough inquiry into the whole matter and found no negligence on the part of the ferryman. Their final conclusion was that all 50 persons died because they ignored the written warning and the pleading of the ferryman. It is the same with the free salvation which God is offering to you. If you ignore the warnings God has given us in the Bible and refuse His offer of pardon for your sins, then you will surely go into a lost eternity forever. “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:15. Yet God has made every possible provision so that you may not go there. Once again, the Bible says, “To-day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” Hebrews 3:15. Accept Christ as your Saviour and know that you are safe from coming judgment.

ML-11/18/1984

Being Thankful

The “suppertime” call rang out and Nathan and Grandpa took their places at the table. Grandma’s homemade bread and other goodies met Nathan’s bright eyes as he folded his hands and waited... and waited. Though Grandpa was hungry, too, he was adjusting his knife and fork and plate as he finished a little conversation with Grandma. The wait was too long for hungry Nathan, so he put his little hand on Grandpa’s arm and said, “Say grace, Grampy, say grace.” So with heads bowed Grandpa thanked God for His love in giving Jesus to die on the cross and for the food that He had again provided for them, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grandpa’s prayer had especially pleased Nathan, so when eyes opened he looked up at his grandpa with a satisfied smile and said, “The Lord Jesus loves that!”

What a truth and lesson we have from a three-year-old. The Lord Jesus does love to hear our thankfulness for everything He has provided for us. Salvation from our sins through His precious blood is, of course, the greatest. But our food, health and safety are included in His daily care for us, too. Ephesians 5:20 says, “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6.

ML-11/18/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: Ever-Present Beetles - Part 1

“Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth... the locust... the beetle... and the grasshopper.... But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you.” Leviticus 11:21-23.

It is interesting to find the lowly beetle mentioned in the Bible and included in the “clean” food approved by the Lord for the Israelites. Most creeping things were not to be eaten, but the locust, beetle and grasshopper were exceptions. Do you know why? If the Bible verse is read carefully we will see that the “clean” insects had legs above their feet that raised them from the ground. Without these legs their bodies were always in contact with the earth.

This distinction is a lesson for us. If we allow Satan to occupy us with this world so that we do not want to be separated from it or to rise above it in our thoughts, this is not pleasing to God. But if our thoughts and affections rise above the world (heavenward) and separate us from it, then God is well pleased. Think about it.

There are over 200,000 kinds of beetles and it is interesting to notice how the Creator adapts each kind to its surroundings. Some we have considered previously, such as the living bomb, another called the sexton, the familiar ladybird beetle, and the interesting firefly.

All “clean” beetles have four wings, the top pair being a stiff outer case not used in flying, but covering the inner pair when folded and at rest. The many varieties include all sizes—those small enough to crawl through the eye of a needle up to the Goliath beetle of Africa, which is the size of a man’s fist. Another, only one-tenth of an inch long, blind and without wings (this one would be “unclean") lives in a nest of yellow ants where it receives good care because of a sweet liquid the ants take from it. When hungry it nudges an ant; their two mouths come together as though kissing, and food from the ant is transferred to the beetle.

Then there is the yellow tiger beetle which, though a pretty brilliant green with coppery legs flashing in the sunshine, is a ferocious little creature, living on sandy shores or on flat open places. It catches insects by attracting them with a fragrant perfume, then kills them with its sickle-shaped jaws.

There is an unusual water beetle which lives below the surface of ponds, carrying air down in a bag-like part of its body and renewing it when necessary. The Creator provided this one with exceptional eyes so that when on the water’s surface it can see both what is in the air above and what is going on down below. Another, called the diving beetle, also spends much time in the water and is equipped with fine hair on its underside that holds an air bubble for breathing when it dives down.

(to be continued)

ML-11/18/1984

Drivers Dive for Dollars

Memory Verse: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9

Almost every week or so the Chicago area expressways are littered with unusual things that have fallen out of trucks. Frozen green beans, shampoo, orange juice, hamburger, even crates of live chickens have been some of the things accidently dumped on the roadways by trailer trucks involved in accidents. One time a load of cattle somehow got loose and roamed out over the expressway, stopping traffic until the police got them rounded up and back in the trailer. But nothing caused as much excitement as when two bags of money spilled out onto the Stevenson Expressway recently. The two bags rolled out of an armored truck, split open and sent $167,000 blowing loose on the pavement!

Cars began slamming on their brakes in the middle of the expressway, and about 50 or 60 motorists jumped out of their cars and began grabbing up the money. Some of them even got into fights over the money. Drivers were seen getting back into their cars and trucks with their arms filled with bundles of money. Others scrambled on their hands and knees, gathering up loose bills. Within minutes the expressway was completely blocked in both directions. Police reported that it took over a half hour to get the traffic moving again. One police officer said, “It’s too bad someone didn’t have a movie camera out there. You could have seen human nature at its worst.”

In Proverbs 15:3 we are told “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” Most of the people were able to get away with the money they had gathered up (stolen) without being identified by the police. BUT... God was watching! Another verse in Genesis 16:13 tells us, “Thou God seest me.” Even if the police are never able to find the drivers who picked up the money and kept it, God knows right where they are, even now, and exactly how much money they stole.

Not many of us will ever be faced with the temptation of gathering up money from a roadway. But, are we able to pass the “little” temptations, like a cookie or a piece of candy that is not ours? In God’s eyes whether it is one hundred dollars that is taken or just one small piece of candy, it is still SIN. 1 Timothy 6:11 warns us to “flee these things.” How good to know if we have accepted the Lord Jesus as our Saviour that He will help us to “flee” sin.

Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin;

Each victory will help you some other to win;

Fight faithfully onward, dark passions subdue,

Look ever to Jesus, He will carry you through.

Ask the Saviour to help you,

Comfort, strengthen and keep you;

He is willing to aid you,

He will carry you through.

ML-11/25/1984

Burglar Alarm

The new day for Karen had already ticked off twenty minutes, and she had not made one move to get dressed. Her mother’s reminding her to “hurry and dress” only made her feel cross. The little five-year-old yawned and padded over to the window to see if her puppy “Midnight” was awake. He was, and his wagging tail made her smile back at him.

After some minutes Mother called frantically, “Come, Karen! Mark will be late for school unless we leave RIGHT NOW!”

Next door Mrs. Jones was sewing near an open sliding door. She nearly dropped her needle when the morning quiet was shattered by an ear-splitting noise. Such an insistent siren along with a loud ringing could only be the Kelly’s burglar alarm. “Horrors!” thought Mrs. Jones, “Mrs. Kelly must be gone to take Mark to school by now. Could it really be burglars? Should I call the police?”

Mrs. Jones decided to keep her ears and eyes open and wait in front of the house for her neighbor’s return. After all, she was a good mother, and it would be a shame to cause her any trouble with the police in the event that a child had been left alone in the house. Just then, as suddenly as it had begun, the alarm stopped—just as Mrs. Kelly herself drove up.

“Your burglar alarm... " Mrs. Jones began.

But at that moment the front door burst open, and Karen ran out into her mother’s arms. Between great gasping sobs she managed to say, “I only wanted some air... and... I forgot the alarm was on!”

“Yes, and you forgot to obey Mother! Now into the house with you!” Turning to Mrs. Jones, she explained how Karen had been naughty from the start that morning and would not get dressed in time. “Of course, I shouldn’t have left her alone. I told her to sit on a certain chair and not to get off until I returned. Dear me! I think the two of us have learned a lesson today!”

Not every little girl or boy has had their early-morning sins announced to the entire neighborhood so loudly. But how many times have you not paid attention to the words, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.” Ephesians 6:1. God knows what is best for us, and in His love and wisdom He has given us parents to guide and protect us. Karen was, in a sense, a burglar, because she robbed herself of happiness she could have enjoyed by being helpful and obedient to her mother.

But what is even more serious is that all sin is against God. Karen learned that a disobedient act done when no one else was near had surprising results. Listen seriously to this verse from the Bible: “There is nothing... hid, that shall not be known. Therefore, whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and... shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.” Luke 12:2,3. Rather frightening, isn’t it?

How good to have all our sins covered—covered over forever by the Lord Jesus Christ. “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” Psalms 32:1. Those of whom this is true will not even come into judgment, as we are told in John 5:24, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation [judgment] but is passed from death unto life.” Won’t you be obedient to His call to believe and trust Him today?

ML-11/25/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: Ever-Present Beetles - Part 2

“Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth?” Jeremiah 23:24.

Thousands of the world’s beetles keep hidden from their enemies, often living in almost total darkness. But they are never hidden from the Lord God their Creator who knows about each of them. The death watch beetle no doubt considers itself well hidden as it bores into wood and books. Its stomach has two tiny pockets containing yeast cells that help digest this kind of food.

The larva of the oil beetle, hatching from an egg laid near a flowering plant, is a real hitchhiker. Immediately after birth it climbs to the flower and waits for a bee to arrive. Leaping on the bee’s back and clinging to its hair, it is carried to the hive where it drops off and is assured a great quantity of sweet food as it grows. How do you suppose it learned to do this? It could never discover this arrangement by itself. No, it is part of the wise instinct given by its Creator.

The tiny braconid beetle is a enemy of the tomato hornworn and goes after them in the following way: the female beetle lays eggs under the skin of the worm and the eggs hatch into maggots which eat the flesh of the worm. Tomato growers appreciate this good service.

Beetles are indeed found in strange places, but none stranger than the head standers, living in certain sand dunes along the African seacoast where temperatures reach 150° through the day. Like all living things these beetles require moisture to endure the hot sands, but there is seldom any rain in these deserts. In what way has the Master Creator supplied them with the ability to get water?

Just before dawn as the sea fog moves in from the ocean, the head standers climb to the top of a sand dune. There they lift themselves up on their short front legs and long, spindly hind legs, pointing their heads down and turning their bodies toward the wet breeze. They wait patiently and soon the small water droplets from the fog wet their hard backs, and drops roll down their legs into their mouths for a cool, pure drink of water! None of these beetles could achieve their surprising ways of life by gradually developing them over centuries of time, for the species could not have survived until fully equipped for their amazing performances which sustain life.

How nice to know that the Lord God, the Creator of all, had even the needs of lowly beetles in His purposes when placing them on the earth.

We know every human being is more wonderfully made than any other creature. In addition we have an everlasting soul, a mind and a heart that can learn of and accept God’s wonderful love. That love has provided an eternal home in heaven, assured for all who admit themselves to be sinners and accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour. Have you done this?

ML-11/25/1984

Shimbi

Memory Verse: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3:36

It has been many years ago now since we pitched camp near a river where there was a group of villages. We wanted to bring the good news of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ to these Africans, some of whom probably never had heard of His great love.

The caravan was rather large. Many things had to be taken with us. In those days there were no stores along the roads. Food for a three-week trip plus tents, folding cots, chairs and a table had to be carried on the shoulders of men.

After the tents were pitched and before it got dark, the carriers went into the forest to find wood to build a fire for the people to sit around. Each man brought a long log and then piled it on top of others until the pile of wood was three or four feet high. What a big fire it made!

Messengers were sent to the villages inviting the people to come hear words read from God’s Book. When they would see the flames of fire (which could be seen a long way off) they were to come to a meeting.

The dry logs soon burned down to bright red fishes. It was an interesting sight to see the people come. The men came with a blanket draped over one shoulder, the women carried babies on their backs, and children ran happily beside them. While waiting for the meeting to start, little girls sat close to the missionary chattering about lots of things. They liked also to peek into the tent to see how we sat on chairs, not on the ground.

When all were seated on the ground around the ashes, the head man of the caravan, who also was the evangelist, stood up, started a well-known hymn, prayed and read a chapter from the book of Mark. (Mark was the only part of the Bible translated into their language at that time.) He spoke faithfully to the people about the love of God in sending the Lord Jesus Christ into this world to die for sinners. On the cross He was punished for the sins of all who would accept Him as their Saviour. He explained that each of them was a sinner and that without Christ they would not go to heaven.

There did not seem to be much response at the meeting. But what a surprise awaited us the next morning when a young boy came to the tent door. Greeting us by clapping his hands together and the usual “Mutende” (peace), he said he wanted to believe. He had not been able to come to the evening meeting, so came in the morning. His name was Shimbi. He not only wanted to accept the Lord Jesus as his Saviour, but wanted to attend the boys’ school on the mission station so he could learn to read. He wanted to read God’s Book.

When school opened he was there. He was a bright pupil and told others in the village about the Lord Jesus. His sister came to the mission station saying she also wanted to believe. She said, “Shimbi has believed and I do not want to be left out.”

Have you accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour? There is still time, but the opportunity will soon be past. Don’t wait any longer. The Lord Jesus loves you and wants you to be saved right now. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31.

ML-12/02/1984

Uncle Dai (Pronounced Die)

There’ll be no doubtin’ Morgan Doughton

When he tells you his sad tale,

He’ll tell you of his Uncle Dai

Whose parents came from Wales.

" ‘Twas bitter cold, the wind blew bold

On a February night;

A chill of woe had filled the air

That gave a sense of fright.

“Dai’s youngest, now a year of age

Had walked his first this eve;

As time for work had now arrived

Dai pondered not to leave.

“They settled down and while they slept

A ringing on the line

Disturbed their sleep with news from work,

‘They need you at the mine.’

“At two o’clock the family slept

But a knocking on the pane

Awoke them all and caused each heart

Uneasiness again.

“No man down at the mine would work

‘Till Uncle Dai arrived

The roof had rumbled once, yea twice,

No source had been derived.

" ‘I want a brave man! Give me two!’

Dai cried out to the crew.

‘We must inspect each foot of shaft

Ere work begins anew.’

“My Uncle Dai, I idolized.

A leader he of men.

The hands shot up with volunteers

He could a had him ten!

“I was among the two to go

We tested every beam.

A rumble echoed in the shaft

And opened up a seam.

“Dai quickly sensed that where I stood

The roof’s about to go.

He lunged and sent me sprawling forth

About ten feet or so.

“The roof had caved; dear Uncle Dai

Was caught beneath debris.

He saved my life by giving his

A braver none than he!”

This true story was written as a poem about David Thomas. Mr. Thomas (Uncle Dai) gave his life to save Morgan Doughton.

This should cause each of us to think about the Lord Jesus Christ who died for all who have accepted Him as their Saviour. He died so that others might have everlasting life. Have you accepted Him as your Saviour? Are you protected from the punishment that your sins require? Don’t wait a moment longer—turn to the Lord Jesus Christ right now and be saved!

“Greater love path no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8.

ML-12/02/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Desert-Wise Cactus Wren

“Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high, who humbleth Himself to behold the things... in the earth!” Psalms 113:5,6.

About the size of a robin, the cactus wren is the largest member of the wren family. Its brown feathers mottled with white, tether with the jewel-like, bright red or orange iris of its eyes, combine to make it quite a pretty bird.

As its name indicates the cactus wren makes its home in the hot deserts of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. This is where its ability to thrive in the harsh desert has been provided by the Creator, and it seems quite content there. It has been given a remarkable instinct to place its nest among the needle-like armor of spiny cholla and other cactus plants. This defense is so good that its enemies (owls, wood rats, ground squirrels and snakes) do not care to attack often. So sure is the wren of this protection that it makes no attempt to conceal its nest which is placed about three feet above the ground.

The straw-colored nests, where speckled eggs are laid and the young raised, are often as big as a man’s head. Shaped like a flask they are made of desert plants, grass and twigs and lined with soft wooly fibers and feathers. These nests show the God-given skill handed down from one generation to another. When finished with her nest the female wren builds a landing platform surrounded by sharp cactus spikes from which an oval passage, as much as a foot long, goes into the nest itself.

However, the male bird is not invited to share this nest. Instead, if he cannot find an abandoned one to use he builds himself a separate one nearby. He is not as careful about its construction as the female is with hers, except that he also places it among protective needles of a cactus or thorny bush. The female’s nest may be reused year after year, but the male’s often will fall apart during the first winter’s storms.

Cactus wrens are wary creatures, although they do select high perches for singing their melodious songs. However, when searching for food they prefer to fly close to the ground, screened by desert bushes. Most of their food is insects and seeds of desert plants. When hunting, these wise little birds know that much food lives under stones, so they turn these over to get at the insects that live underneath. Some of these stones may weigh half as much as the birds do.

Our opening verse tells us of our Creator God who, though mighty, humbles Himself to look after all His creatures. This includes you as well, and not only does He care for your needs, but the Bible tells us, “The Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek Him, He will be found of thee; but if thou forsake Him, He will cast thee off forever.” 1 Chronicles 28:9.

What does He see when He looks into your heart?

ML-12/02/1984

Dino's Bad Day

Memory Verse: “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” Proverbs 15:3

This is Dino. He is a fun-loving, bouncy dog that lives with a family who loves him. The children in his family take good care of him. He is well fed, his coat is carefully brushed, he is taken for walks, and when he gets sick, which isn’t very often, they take him to the vet and follow his instructions. The family has trained Dino to obey some commands and to do some tricks. When he obeys a command he is told he is a “good dog,” and when he does a trick he is rewarded with a special “doggie treat.” So Dino has a good home and is in need of nothing. But he is still a dog and has a dog’s nature.

One afternoon the whole family went away leaving Dino at home alone. One of the children left a pack of gum on the kitchen counter, pushing it back so Dino wouldn’t see it.

When the family came home several hours later, Dino did not come bounding to meet them with his tail wagging furiously like he usually did. He just stood in the kitchen with his head down and his tail between his legs. Something was wrong. Was he sick, they wondered?

A few moments later one of the children noticed torn pieces of paper scattered on the living room floor. A quick check of the kitchen counter soon ended the mystery. The pack of gum was gone. Dino had found it and eaten it. The paper on the floor was pieces of gum wrapper. Dino knew what he had done was wrong. Because he had been trained not to put his paws up on the table or counter, there was good reason why his head was down and his tail was between his legs.

Poor Dino had to be punished for what he had done. Even though he is a pretty smart dog, he will soon forget the whole thing. In fact, he will probably do the same thing again, if he gets the chance. He doesn’t have the ability to understand, since he is a dog and has a dog’s nature. That’s the way God made dogs.

God has made people much different from animals. He has given us the ability to think and understand and remember. Even so we still do things that are wrong. If you or I were to sneak that pack of gum that didn’t belong to us, we would hide the gum wrapper so we wouldn’t get caught. Then in a few days we would try to forget the whole thing.

But that’s not the end of it for you or me. We know if our parents had discovered what we had done we would have been punished. But even so, that wouldn’t have settled the matter with God. There is a verse in the Bible that says “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” Proverbs 15:3. So even though we thought we got away with sneaking that gum, we didn’t! God saw what we did, and He calls it sin. The Bible tells us that all sin must be punished by God. That punishment is being reserved until after we die, in an awful place called hell. “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment [punishment].” Hebrews 9:27.

Now here’s the good news. God loves each one of us, and He would love to forgive all our sins. But still, there’s punishment necessary for those sins. Because He loves you and me so very much, this is what He did. He sent His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to bear that punishment for sin on the cross "Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many.” Hebrews 9:28. If you are really and truly sorry about your sins, you should confess to the Lord Jesus Christ that you are a sinner. He promises He will forgive you and then you will not have to be punished for your sins, because He already was punished for them when He died on the cross and shed His blood. Won’t you accept and enjoy God’s love for you and thank the Lord Jesus for forgiving your sins?

“For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:17.

ML-12/09/1984

The Snow Storm

CRASH!

“What was that?” everybody asked at the same time.

“It sounded like a branch of a tree breaking and falling,” said Father, “but there isn’t any wind to cause it.”

Father went to the front window. “Wow, look at all the snow!” he exclaimed. The whole family came to the window to see. The night was very still, but large, heavy snowflakes were falling fast. Everything in the garden was already covered with a thick blanket of wet, heavy snow.

“It must be nearly a foot deep already,” said Father. “I’ve never seen it snow so hard before.”

CRASH!

“Look over there,” said Father. “That old oak tree over at Kennedy’s house has just lost a big branch. The snow is too heavy for the trees!”

Through the night it continued to snow, with the temperature dropping and the wind picking up and getting stronger each hour. Anyone who was awake would have heard branches breaking and falling. Each one told of the end of another struggle between tree and heavy snow.

The next morning showed the damage that had been done by the snow storm. Abandoned cars were everywhere. Great branches of trees had fallen. Telephone wires were down, and even some telephone poles had fallen.

When we think of all the damage that a snow storm can do, we must remember that a pretty little snowflake is what caused it. Snowflakes may be small, and one of them will melt quickly on your finger, but their habit of sticking together makes them dangerous. One seems to attract another, and when they meet they stick together. If the snow is wet it will pile up on everything and become so heavy that things start to break. Sin is very much like this, too. Most of us think we are pretty good. At least we can always think of someone who is worse than we are. We don’t really understand how awful sin is in the sight of God. Sometimes we see what sin has done to a person; one sin leads to another, then another, until finally something terrible happens. The Bible tells us that all it takes is one sin for something terrible to happen — we cannot go to heaven to be with the Lord Jesus.

God who cannot have one sin in His presence, yet loves you and me, opened the way for sinners like us to be with Him in heaven. He sent His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to be punished on the cross for sinners. If you believe that He was punished for you — that He died because of your sins — and accept Him as your own Saviour, you are saved — your sins are washed away in His blood. Why not accept Him right now?

“The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.” John 3:36.

ML-12/09/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: Life From Seeds

“And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself.” Genesis 1:11.

A wonder of God’s creation is the way in which plants, flowers, grass and trees reproduce themselves. The seeds that are formed sometimes can push the tenderest blade of new life through the hardest soil. No matter how tiny the seed of a tree has inside it the capability of producing roots, the tree trunk, branches and leaves. It contains cells with enough food to start the new growth until roots and leaves can get along by themselves.

There are seeds that retain life for twenty years or more under extreme desert heat and with God-given “time clocks” do not sprout until the right conditions are present. Often this will be through a heavy cloudburst or a spring flood, which removes the chemical coating of the seed that has preserved it so long. Now, as the coating dissolves the seed splits open, root and shoot are produced, and a new plant begins to grow. One desert plant produces self-planting seeds with spiral tails! The spirals are sensitive to the slightest moisture in the air. They coil and uncoil in such a way that they dig themselves into the dry sandy soil, and when rain finally comes they are self-planted and ready to take root.

It is easy to understand how seeds of various kinds are arranged by planting and cultivating them, but many are scattered far and wide by wind, water, birds, animals and insects. For instance, one Russian thistle may have 100,000 seeds on it, all of which are carried by the wind to new locations, even across mount ins and oceans! Then, too, many seeds float down rivers and across oceans to distant shores and take root there. The coconut is an example of this.

The tasty fruit of trees and bushes, hunted by birds and animals, contains its seed or pit. These creatures may carry the fruit a considerable distance before eating them and discarding the seed or pit, where it often will take root and start a new plant. What a wonderful provision of the Creator to thus use animals and birds to take part in providing a future food supply for their kind in places all over the world!

The Bible speaks of one who sowed seed in a large area — some never took root, others grew awhile and then died, but some fell on good ground and brought forth much fruit. In Matthew chapter 13 the Lord Himself explained about this, likening the seed to the Word of God sown throughout the world. Some people paid no attention to it and it did not take root with them. Others enjoyed it for a little while, but did not really accept it in their hearts, so there was no new life there either. But the happy ones were those who received and believed the Word and received a new eternal life, which is through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Which one of these are you?

ML-12/09/1984

Shark Attack!

Memory Verse: “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9

Joe and Rudy loved to go fishing. There was nothing they liked to do better than to row out in the bay and spend all day catching fish. This particular day was no different than any other, and the two friends packed some food in their boat and along with their gear rowed out to the reef which was a good distance from the shore. All day long the two men caught fish after fish and threw them in their boat.

It was late in the afternoon and time to quit. The men packed away their gear and started the long row back to the harbor. Now, because of all the fish, their boat was much lower down in the water than it was when they had left that morning. After they had been rowing for a while they noticed something slicing through the water, coming toward them from the ocean. Oh no! It couldn’t be! But it was... a shark’s dorsal fin, heading straight for their rowboat. Then they saw another... and another... and another! Each one was circling, circling, circling round and round their little boat, gradually closing in on the two frightened men. They could not row any faster and they just did not know what to do. “Let’s throw them some of the fish,” one of them suggested. “Maybe that’ll satisfy their hunger.” And so they began throwing their day’s work out to feed the hungry creatures that surrounded their boat.

Sometimes we are like these two men, trying to fight off the attacks of our worst enemy, Satan, by using our own ideas. The Bible says in James 4:7, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” But we can only do that through the power of the Lord Jesus. We are no match for Satan in our own strength.

The day’s catch of fish was gone, but the sharks still were very close to the boat, and Joe and Rudy were terrified. Suddenly a shark shot out of the water and tore an oar from the oarlock! Now the two men were unable to row, and they realized that they were totally helpless to do anything to get out of their difficulty.

One of the men waved frantically toward shore, hoping to attract attention. But all they received was a friendly wave back from someone who recognized the boat.

Now the sharks were closing in for the kill. One of the creatures arched out of the water, and as it dropped back into the water, its jaw caught on the side of the boat ripping a piece out of the wooden hull. Unfortunately for the shark it cut its mouth on the edge of the torn boat and began to bleed. Suddenly there was a mass of boiling water beside the two fishermen as the rest of the sharks, sensing blood in the water, attacked the injured fish. In moments the shark was totally eaten!

As the two men realized that they were at the mercy of these deadly creatures, they fell on their knees in their boat and cried to God to save them. In their desperate need they promised God that if He saved them out of this, they would serve Him for the rest of their lives.

There are some phrases in Psalms 107 that describe the exact situation of our two friends. “Their soul is melted because of trouble.... and are at their wit’s end. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and He bringeth them out of their distresses.” 10:26-28. The Lord often chooses to put His creatures into really difficult situations in order to make them turn to Him.

And so God, who holds our very breath in His hand, was watching over Joe and Rudy. Looking up, the two terrified friends again saw more fins heading their way. But no, these were not shark fins! Their path through the water was different. Here was nothing but the hand of the Lord reaching out to save two repentant sinners. Dolphins, one of the few things that sharks are afraid of, were heading toward this troubled spot in the bay. It seemed as if the sharks quickly decided that being right there at that moment was not a good idea, and they left the boat and headed for the open sea. Not one shark stayed behind!

With thankful hearts Rudy and Joe limped their way home with their damaged boat and one oar. They both kept their promise to God and now serve Him instead of spending their time on things that don’t really matter.

The Lord Jesus Christ longs and is “able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him.” Hebrews 7:25. Have you come to Him yet?

ML-12/16/1984

Hide and Seek

Almost everybody knows how to play “hide and seek.” I think it is one of the first games that children learn to play. What fun it is to have your daddy hide and then try to find him. Where could he be? In the closet? Behind a curtain? Under a bed? “MAKE A NOISE, DADDY. WE CAN’T FIND YOU!”

It does not take long for children to learn how to find someone. They soon know all the good hiding places. But it is harder to teach children how to hide. They have to learn to be very quiet, to stay completely out of sight, and to keep very still. All three of these are hard for children to do.

I can remember when my children were quite small and just learning to play hide and seek. I had told them to go hide while I counted up to 50. They ran off squealing as I counted, "1 2... 3 ... 48 49 ... 50! HERE I COME, READY OR NOT!”

I looked carefully all over downstairs and then went upstairs into their bedroom. What do you think I found? They were very quiet and they were perfectly still, but they were not out of sight! They both were lying on the floor with their heads under the bed. They couldn’t see anything, and so they thought they were hidden. But the rest of their bodies, from their shoulders down, were in plain view!

Are you trying to hide from God? Some people are. What they are really trying to hide from Him are their sins. How foolish! The Bible says that “His [God’s] eyes are upon the ways of man, and He seeth all his goings.” Job 34:21. What does God see? “The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7. Yes, He sees and knows everything about us, so why try to hide? It is impossible! We must bow before Him, admitting that we are sinners, and accept His Son the Lord Jesus as our Saviour. Then we won’t want to hide from Him any longer, but we will want to be as close as we can be to Him “who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.

ML-12/16/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Awesome Tiger

“One generation shall praise Thy works to another, and shall declare Thy mighty acts. " Psalms 145:4.

A mother tiger (tigress) moves her kitten-size cubs by grasping the loose skin over their necks with her teeth, just like a mother cat does. She is good to her three or four little ones, protecting them from her mate, who would just as soon make a meal of them. When the cubs are two months old she trains them to hunt, to swim and to take care of themselves. When fully grown a male will measure up to nine feet from whiskers to its white tail tip and weigh around 500 pounds. Normally, it will live about 20 years.

Many claim the graceful and lordly tiger to be the grandest of the larger animals, considering the beauty of its muscular body and the way it carries itself. Its large head is topped with rather small ears, its mouth accented with long, white whiskers, and its body covered with splendid black stripes — no two animals having identical markings. A special feature is its amber-colored eyes, so outstanding that a rare and valuable gemstone with a similar design is called “tigereye” and considered a prize by collectors. Long, yellow fangs and powerful limbs, equipped with sharp claws, are its principal weapons for killing its food.

The animals a tiger hunts are seldom aware of being stalked until, with a quick dash and great leap, the tiger hurls itself on them and makes the kill. Tigers prefer to live and hunt alone, but at times, through some kind of tiger communication, two will work together if their quarry is an elephant, water buffalo or some other large animal. After gorging on such a catch, neither of them needs to look for food again for several days.

The Creator has given tigers a well-camouflaged design, whether in the brush or thick grass of swamps and prairies. Although they seldom harm humans their ear-splitting roar can be heard for two miles, frightening the hearer. On some occasions people have been even more terrified to see one suddenly appear “out of nowhere” and then are relieved to have it disappear just as silently and mysteriously.

Though ferocious, the tiger is part of God’s creation. In disposing of weak and sickly animals that might spread disease among their companions, it plays an important part in the balance of nature, ordered by the Creator “In whose hand is the soul [life] of every living thing.” Job 12:10.

We look with wonder on His care over all living things, but we should consider the special care He gives to mankind. David, the Psalmist, had such thoughts when he said: “Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world: both low and high, rich and poor, together.” Psalms 49:1,2. Have you “given ear,” not only to His care, but to His loving invitation to accept everlasting life through faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ?

ML-12/16/1984

The Stolen Necklace

Memory Verse: “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13

Kasturi was planning a wonderful surprise for his daughter who would soon be getting married. He wanted to buy her the perfect gift. What could he get?

He lived in a small, country town many miles from the big city of Madras in southern India. After a long bus trip he arrived in the city and began his search for the special something.

At last he found just what he wanted — a beautiful, gold necklace. It cost many thousands of rupees, but that didn’t matter. After all it was for his daughter. Wouldn’t she be thrilled! After paying for the necklace, Kasturi carefully put the precious gift in his briefcase and walked to the bus station where he had a long wait before his bus came along.

It so happened that the only bus he could catch didn’t go all the way to his town. He would have to change buses partway home. Arriving at the town where he was to change to another bus, he was disappointed to learn that he had missed the last bus home that day. Now he would have to wait all night here in this strange town. But wait! Didn’t Raja, his good friend from school, and his wife Nanda live here somewhere? Of course! But how could he find them?

After much searching Kasturi at last found his old friend’s house. He was gladly welcomed by Raja who invited him to spend the night with them. Nanda cooked him a meal, and afterward Kasturi happily told his two friends of his daughter’s coming wedding. Opening his briefcase, he showed them the wonderful necklace he had bought her. Raja and Nanda looked at the wedding gift and then looked at each other with not so nice thoughts.

Later that night after Kasturi had gone to bed and they were sure he was asleep, Raja and his wife crept into his room and took his case. Back in their own room they removed the necklace from the briefcase, wrapped it up in some old clothes, and hid it in a wastepaper basket. Then after quietly replacing the briefcase beside their sleeping guest, they settled down for the night.

The Bible says in Numbers 32:23, “Be sure your sin will find you out.” And in Proverbs 28:13 it says, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper.” One sin nearly always leads to another as we shall soon see in our story.

In the morning Kasturi was eager to be on his way, so after a cup of coffee he went to his room to get his briefcase. One quick check to make sure everything was all right. But what was this? Where was the necklace? It was gone!

“Do you know anything about this, Raja?”

“No, no. I don’t know what could have happened,” replied Raja. His wife, too, and all their children denied knowing anything.

You see, boys and girls, how one sin leads to another. First the husband and wife took something that did not belong to them, and then they told lies to cover up what they had done.

Kasturi must have felt very sad as he walked to the police station to report the theft.

“Where did this happen?” the policeman asked. “In Raja’s house? Oh, but he is highly respected in this town! We cannot suspect him!”

But Kasturi was desperate to get the necklace back, so he appealed to the Commissioner of Police for help.

The Commissioner called Raja and Kasturi and questioned them both. Then he made a decision. He told Raja to write a note on a piece of paper that would be taken by a policeman to Nanda his wife, telling her to give the policeman the necklace. If she did as requested, that would prove their guilt. If she did not produce the necklace then maybe they were innocent.

Caught in a very difficult situation Raja confessed everything and told the Commissioner that the necklace was hidden in the wastepaper basket in his bedroom.

Kasturi got his necklace back, and rushing to the bus station he just managed to catch the last bus that day going to his home town.

Just like Raja who was well known and was thought to be too respectable to do anything wrong, so many people in the world try to appear respectable to God by wearing nice clothes and going to church and doing other “acceptable” things like that. But God doesn’t look at the outside. He looks inside — at our hearts. Unless we have had our sins washed away in the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, all our outward appearances count for nothing before God. As the Bible says in Isaiah 64:6, “All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.”

Come to Jesus today, accept Him as your Saviour, and know for sure that your sins are forgiven and there is a home reserved in heaven for you.

ML-12/23/1984

The Birthday Cake

Mother was making a birthday cake for Connie. This really was not her regular birthday, it was her half birthday, because she was only six months old.

“It will be a very little cake,” said Mother, “actually only half a cake, because she is only half-a-year old!”

“May we help make it?” both Mark and Julie asked.

“I could certainly use some help,” said Mother, and she pulled two chairs over to the counter and put some butter and sugar into a bowl. “And you know,” she went on, “there’s something God can teach us while we make this cake.”

Mark and Julie climbed up on the chairs and took turns stirring the butter and sugar.

“The things we’ve put in so far,” said Mother, “we like very much, don’t we?”

Mark and Julie nodded, because they sure did like butter and sugar.

“But now we have to put in some things that don’t taste very good baking powder and flour.”

The two children tasted a little of both the baking powder and the flour and quickly agreed that they didn’t like the taste of either one, but especially the baking powder.

Then Mother went on with her explanation. “But when we mix together the things we like and the things we don’t like, what do we get? We get a cake that tastes good!” Mother added little spoonfuls of other things, and Mark and Julie kept stirring.

“Have you ever thought that God works the same way?” she said. “He lets some things come to us that we like very much — butter-and-sugar kinds of things. But He also lets some things come to us that we don’t like — baking powder-and-flour kinds of things. These may be unhappy things like being sick or being hurt by someone.

“But God knows that all these things are needed to make us turn out the way He wants. We couldn’t use our cake very well if it had only sugar and butter in it. And God couldn’t use us very well either if only things we like happened to us.”

Connie’s little half-a-birthday cake (with only half a candle on it) was dessert for supper that night. After supper Daddy taught them a Bible verse that said just what Mother had been telling them while they made the cake — “All things work together for good to them that love God.” Romans 8:28.

ML-12/23/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Shrieking Shrike

“Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?” Isaiah 40:28.

Among the birds the Creator has placed throughout the world, there are more than 50 varieties of one called the shrike. Usually they are about the size of a bluejay, and all of them eat nothing but flesh, including insects, snakes, small birds, mice and other rodents.

While most of them are rather plain black or brown with some white beneath, there are three unusual ones — the woodchat, with a brilliant red top on its head; the gray-headed which, as its name suggests, has gray on the front of its head, changing to green on its back and tail, offset by a soft-yellow body below; and the plumed helmet, with a white feathery plume rising proudly above the back of its head.

Most common in North America is the great shrike, with a 10 to 14-inch body and wingspread’ of more than a foot. Its strong, notched bill is equipped with a sharp, hooked point just like other birds of prey. As with other shrikes it nests in trees or shrubs where a cup-shaped home is lined with feathers, fibers, hair and sometimes ornamented with old snake skins.

These birds use high, exposed perches as vantage points. They have rather sweet, warbling songs, sometimes mimicking other birds or even quacking like a duck. But when a victim is spotted a harsh, shrieking call is made, and then swooping swiftly down its catch is made in mid air or on the ground and is promptly killed.

Since its claws are not strong enough to carry its prey any distance, it hangs it on a nearby support. This may be a large thorn, the sharp point of a broken limb, or the barbs of a wire fence. There it eats its meal, taking portions to its little ones in the nest and leaving the remainder for a later meal. This is how it got the nickname “butcherbird” and also why it is an unpopular bird to many. However, farmers are always glad to have them nearby, knowing they are a help in destroying harmful insects, mice and other pests.

Perhaps it was to benefit people this way that the Creator provided the shrike, for God’s first thoughts concerning the creatures of earth are toward mankind. The Bible says, “So God created man in His own image.... and God blessed them, and God said unto them... have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” Genesis 1:27,28.

The Bible also tells boys and girls, “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.” Ecclesiastes 12:1. How important it is to remember Him not only as the Creator, but to know Him as your own Lord and Saviour. Is this true of you?

ML-12/23/1984

The Rejected Life Jacket

Memory Verse: “The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.” 1 John 4:14

When I was a young boy I lived in the Bahama Islands, and I became fascinated with anything that flew, especially small airplanes. One sunny day my father, knowing of my newly developed interest, arranged for me to fly along with a missionary pilot in his small, four-seater, single-engine airplane. He was going to take a native to one of the many small islands in that area. Excited with my first ride I climbed aboard. But as I looked over the plane I noticed not only that it was rather old, but that it was covered in a canvas fabric which was patched in many places. I buckled the frayed seat belt. My heart beat with excitement and fear as the roaring engine pulled the rickety, old, vibrating airplane into the sky.

The flight was uneventful, and I enjoyed the wonderful view of the beautiful turquoise water and the white sandy beaches down below. After taking the native to his island, we returned home, and I remember thinking as I opened the door how glad I was to be back safely. Even though I was young and had never flown in an airplane before, I knew that the plane was not safe.

Only two weeks later the same missionary pilot was flying this same old plane, carrying a family of four, when he crashed into the ocean. A piece of canvas from the wing had come loose. It became tangled in the tail, forcing the plane to come spiraling down, and smashing into the sea just minutes later. The pilot had just enough time before the crash to get a life jacket on each of his passengers and instruct them how to get out of the plane. None of them knew how to swim.

As the plane hit the water the pilot’s head was forced against the instrument panel, and he blacked out for several minutes. When he regained his senses he was still in the plane, but underwater — along with the terrified passengers. Quickly he opened the door and pushed them out. A few seconds later they all were floating on the surface, with the tail of the plane still visible above the water. What a relief to know that they were all alive.

Then a strange thing happened. The father, in his panic-stricken state, pulled off his life jacket — the only thing that could save him and shouted, “Save my wife and children!” His head disappeared beneath the waves, and he was never seen again.

You may very well ask, “Why did he do such a foolish thing?” But you know if you turn away from the message of the gospel and the Person that it is about, the Lord Jesus Christ, you are doing exactly the same thing as the poor father in our story. By rejecting the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, you are throwing away the only thing that can save you from a lost eternity in the lake of fire! The Bible says in Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Another verse of warning, Hebrews 2:3, says, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation.”

Don’t throw away your “life jacket.” Trust in the Lord Jesus today.

ML-12/30/1984

Following Footsteps

The Stanfords lived on a farm in Minnesota where it got very cold in the winter, and the snow piled up in deep drifts.

One morning after a blizzard had raged all night, Mrs. Stanford got up to fix breakfast. The sun was just beginning to peek through the bedroom window.

“There sure is lots of snow out there,” she said to her husband as he was getting ready to go out for chores. “But I think the plow has already cleared the road at the end of our lane so the school bus can get through.”

Even though the sun was shining through the upstairs windows, when Mrs. Stanford came downstairs it was still dark. She had to turn the lights on in every room just to see where she was going. Where was the sunshine? Looking at the kitchen window, she saw that snow had drifted so high during the night that it had covered the first-floor windows.

“You had better waken the children,” she called to her husband. “There’s lots of shoveling to do to get out to the road.”

When the children saw all the snow Ned, the oldest, said, “We’ll never be able to get through all that snow in the lane!” He smiled to himself as he added, “So I don’t think we can go to school today, can we, Dad?”

“I think you can if you want to,” Mr. Stanford answered him, “but let’s eat breakfast first.”

Mr. Stanford knew that there wasn’t enough time to shovel his way out to the barn to get the tractor so he could plow out the lane before the bus came. He was wishing their snowmobile had been repaired so they could use it now. But since it wasn’t, he would have to come up with another plan.

When the children were ready for school, Mr. Stanford handed Ned a shovel, and he got another one. “First we have to dig through the drift by the house, Ned.”

Working quickly, Ned and his father cut through the drift that crossed the front yard. But now the quarter-mile lane out to the road looked like a sea of white.

“We can’t shovel through all of that,” complained Ned.

“We don’t have to,” replied Mr. Stanford. “Let’s get the other children.”

The younger children were soon dressed warmly since it was very cold.

As they started down the lane Ned said, “We can’t walk on that snow. It’s too soft. We’ll sink in up to our necks!”

“Wait and see,” said Mr. Stanford “You’ll get to school. Now follow me... put your feet exactly where I place mine, and you won’t have any trouble. Step carefully.”

With that he started forward, his big boots sinking deep in the snow, packing down each step so there were footsteps which the children could use.

The children put their little boots down into the deep holes made by their father’s boots. Gradually they trudged down the lane. It was very slow going, because the holes were so deep that it was hard for them to lift their shorter legs out. But everyone kept moving forward, and soon they were out to the plowed road, just as the bus arrived.

For each of us who knows the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour, this story is a good example of how we should follow Him. He has walked through this world and marked out a path. His pathway is recorded in the Bible. We read, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalms 119:105. If we follow His instructions carefully, He will guide us along the path.

Do you know the Lord Jesus as your Saviour? He loves you and wants you to accept Him right now. On the cross He was punished for the sins of all who would accept Him as their own Saviour. Are you one of these? You can be if you’ll admit that you are a sinner and accept the Lord Jesus as your Saviour.

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.

ML-12/30/1984

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Ungainly Hyena

“Neither is there any creature that is not manifest [visible] in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” Hebrews 4:13.

Many tourists camping in Africa have been terrified by loud, hideous laughter piercing the darkness. They even might have called their guide for help only to be told, “Oh, that’s just a hyena. Go back to sleep.” There are many hyenas throughout Africa. The one with the hysterical laugh is the largest and is known as the spotted. It is about six feet long and weighs about 150 pounds.

It is an unattractive animal which has yellowish-brown, coarse hair with black spots all over. Its short head with big, erect ears is large in proportion to its body. Its shoulders, long, muscular front legs and clawed feet combine to make the front of its body much stronger than the back, which tapers down on shorter hind legs to a stubby tail.

Other species of hyenas include the brown and the striped, both being somewhat smaller than the spotted. Aside from their differences in appearance, they all have much in common. No other animal on earth has such strong jaws and teeth that can quickly tear flesh and bones apart. Bones as thick as baseball bats are crunched by them as easily as you would break a stick of peppermint candy. They are all scavengers, and their food preference is a dead animal that has started to decay. Or, finding jackals, cheetahs or other small predators eating an animal they have killed, the hyenas will chase them away and steal their food. But they will not try to chase away lions, because the lions would kill them instead.

In the hottest season, reaching 120° in the shade, most of the big game migrates elsewhere and the hyenas have to be satisfied with catching hares, rodents, snakes and birds. During such dry spells with no water around, the only moisture they get is from the blood of their victims. However, if fortunate they may find a patch of wild melons to quench their thirst.

Some may question what purpose hyenas serve in God’s creation. Like the vultures that often quarrel with them over a dead animal, they perform an important service in disposing of decaying flesh that contaminates the air and spreads disease. This is part of God’s way in letting His creation take care of a serious problem.

But the services of hyenas will not always be needed. Speaking of a future time, the Bible says “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.” Isaiah 65:17. This refers to the coming time after those who are saved through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ have been taken to heaven, and judgment later falls on the rest of the world. Following those events, there will be a restoring to a perfect world where no sin shall exist. Will you be among those in heaven looking down on this lovely and peaceful scene?

ML-12/30/1984

Messages of God's Love: 1984

Table of Contents

Playing With Fire

Faithful Stief

The Wonders of God's Creation: Unpredictable Lemmings of the North

The Boat Ride

Some Mocked

The Wonders of God's Creation: Our Remarkable Kidneys

The Dead Radio

Poetry

A True Story

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Sly Fox

Hale's Cave

The Stolen Fork

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Adaptable Guanaco

Ace's Hot Day

Daring Stunts

The Wonders of God's Creation: Lions of the Sea

The Shelter at Gornergrat

Tumble on Skis

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Ways of Woodpeckers - Part 1

A Short Week

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Ways of Woodpeckers - Part 2

Chico's Witness

A Surprise for Grandma

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Beauty of the Snow

Jairus's Little Girl

For Lost Children

The Wonders of God's Creation: Scoundrel Birds

Pepper

Uncle Ben

Caribou

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Stealthy Bobcat

The "Forgotten" Bible

Faith

The Wonders of God's Creation: How Many Moons Are There? - Part 1

Duty or Love

The Doctor

The Wonders of God's Creation: How Many Moons Are There? - Part 2

Kevin's Good News

The Lost Toads

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Lowly Earthworm

A Night Ride

The Wonders of God's Creation: Moths - Good and Bad

The Tiger and the Mud

Pam's Eye Trouble

The Wonders of God's Creation: The World's Laziest Animal

Alone on an Island

The Wonders of God's Creation: Birds on Schedule

The White Cliffs of Dover

His Voice

What Is His Name?

The Wonders of God's Creation: "Spiky Pig" - The Porcupine

The Little Gray Dog

Spiders

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Lion - King of Beasts - Part 1

The Little Grackle

A Hooked Loon

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Lion - King of Beasts - Part 2

Pray for Little Things

A Little Donkey

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Lion and Other Carnivores - Part 3

The Fight

Almost Is Not Enough

The Wonders of God's Creation: Birds That Eat Bees

The Fireman

Two Rabbits

The Wonders of God's Creation: The Ever-Present Cockroach

Beware of the Snake!

The Foggy Night

The Wonders of God's Creation: Blankets Around the World

A Pardon

A Stray Kitten

The Wonders of God's Creation: Hitchhiking Birds

A Chinese Chicken

A Fight With a Shark!

The Wonders of God's Creation: How Much Are You Worth?

Beneath an Avalanche

The Little Lost Lamb

The Wonders of God's Creation: Mice and More Mice - Part 1