The day promised to be a challenge. Mother had an extra hot drink as she read the morning’s scripture verse: “My grace is sufficient for thee.” 2 Corinthians 12:99And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9). “How good!” she thought. “I might need that today.” Already she could hear them tumbling out of bed —seven little ones under one roof. The weather was rainy, Bennie was sick, and Randy and Sie had house guests for the day.
It was a lively, noisy morning, but Mother felt the truth of her Lord’s faithful promise. Then—joy!—the sun came out and the clouds blew ay. Naturally the children wanted to go outdoors. So they were bundled up against the chill breezes, and rubbers were found for all—all except Bennie, of course, who was coughing with every breath.
Now Randy was a born leader with an unusually strong voice for a nine-year-old. He loved history, and wilderness exploring was on his mind that week, so....
“Now, men,” he boomed, “are you ready to explore that woods out there? It’s never been done before, and we’ve got to blaze a trail!”
Everyone shouted that they were ready, even sister Suzie. They left happy and eager.
“Surely they can’t get lost on just eleven acres,” Mother reasoned with herself. Just in case, she called, “Randy, be sure to be home in an hour!”
He waved to her (a leader of an “expedition” of course could not say “Yes, Mother").
One hour passed, two hours, and the shadows began to grow longer.
“Oh dear,” worried Mother. “How can I go after those rascals with Bennie like this!” Even so, she began to wrap him up warmly. “I can at least drive the car up there and toot the horn.”
Meanwhile, the “expedition” was in trouble.
“Randy! You know what Mamma said! You take us home—right now!” Suzie cried.
“Yeah, we’re cold!” shivered the others. “There’s nothin’ out here but rocks and trees.”
The truth was that Randy had been trying to be obedient and go home for an hour, but they had “explored” too far, and now he was lost. He dropped all his pretending. He knew the Lord Jesus as his Saviour and really was a little man of prayer. “We’d better pray, you guys. I—I’m a—a little confused.” Randy took the lead again, this time in humble trust, leading his shivering troop in prayer.
“Hey, Randy!” Bobby suddenly shouted, “There’s a light! Maybe it’s your house over there!”
“But, but I... I was sure it had to be that way over there, because...,” Randy stammered, pointing the opposite way.
“Well, silly, we just came from ‘over there,’ and you were wrong,” Suzie put in matter-of-factly. “Listen! I hear a...a horn tooting!”
“It’s coming from where the light is! YEA— we’re safe!” They all took off running and crashing through the brush towards the tooting horn.
Lost—right on their own property, But you can be far more hopelessly and dangerously lost sitting right there on your chair. Without the Lord Jesus as your very own Saviour, you are lost in sins. “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 53:66All 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). Jesus came to “seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:1010For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10). As you follow the paths of sin, Satan is taking you further and deeper into darkness. At last he, and you too, will end up in everlasting darkness where “there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 8:1212But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 8:12).
Look to the “light.” Admit you are lost, as the children did, and pray. Jesus 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 8:1212Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, 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). He is waiting to enfold you in His light and warmth and love, washing all your sins away in His blood which He shed for sinners. Then He will take care of you until He takes you to His Father’s house.
ML-07/25/1982