It was a warm spring day, and Jeanne and several of her girlfriends decided to take a hike up to Wallace Falls in northwestern Washington. It was a beautiful place to hike with lots of evergreens and other bushes along the pathway. They could hear the falls off in the distance and were eager to reach the top of the falls. As they hiked, the girls were talking and laughing, enjoying one another’s company. But Jeanne probably wasn’t feeling real happy inside.
Not too long before, at her high school, the classmates had all been asked to write a little message that would be printed under their picture in the yearbook. At the end of her message, Jeanne had written two little words: “I’m scared.” What a strange message! What was she scared of? Jeanne had heard about the Lord Jesus and His love for sinners like herself, but she never seemed very interested in the subject. Was she scared of God? Was she scared of death?
As the girls neared the top of the falls they heaved a sigh of relief; the hot hiking part was over with, and there before them were the beautiful falls! The girls decided to take off their shoes and wade in the pool of water just above the falls to cool off.
“Oops!” yelled Ann, Jeanne’s best friend, “there goes my shoe!” as it fell in with a splash. “I hope it doesn’t go over the falls!”
“Here, I’ll go after it,” yelled back Jeanne. As Jeanne made her way after the shoe, she discovered the current was stronger than she thought. She turned around and struggled to get back to the other girls, but the water current was just too strong for her. Right before her friends’ eyes, Jeanne was carried over the falls!
The girls could hardly believe what had happened and ran for help. But it was too late. Several weeks later, Jeanne’s body was found. Yes, Jeanne had passed from this life into eternity, and with no warning.
Boys and girls, are you ready to face eternity? If you should be suddenly taken with no warning, like Jeanne, where would you be? How wonderful if you would be with the Lord Jesus in heaven where there is true happiness and no more sorrow or tears. But how terrible if you should end in hell with the devil and his angels! There is no happiness there! — no light and no love! Come to the Lord Jesus and have your sins washed away while you still have time. Jeanne had no idea when she woke up that morning that she would be in eternity that very afternoon.
And you do not know when you will be taken either. The Bible says, “Boast not thyself of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Proverbs 27:11Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. (Proverbs 27:1). The Lord Jesus loves you and is still saying, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28). Won’t you come to Him today?
ML-01/15/1989