The quiet English lane was a picture of perfect peace. Between the thick hedgerows Sarah walked dreamily, her thoughts far away. Suddenly the quiet was shattered by a shout: "Run for the gate! Run for the gate!"
Startled back to the present, she looked around. There was no one in sight. But the shout rang out again: "Run for the gate!"
Who had shouted? What gate? Did they mean her? Questions raced through her mind, but immediately she heard again, louder and more commandingly, "Run for the gate!"
Now she could hear a thud-thud of running footsteps and, in sudden panic, she did run to the nearest gate—a small entrance in the thick-set hedge, slipped through and slammed it behind her.
Hardly was she safely inside when an infuriated bull dashed past, followed by several panting drovers. In safety, but only just in time (for the bull badly gored someone else before it was captured), she watched them go by. When all was quiet again she went on her way with deep thankfulness for her escape from danger.
Everything round you may seem as fair and as peaceful as that country road on the Sunday afternoon, but if you are still on the broad way that leads to destruction, the voice of an unseen Speaker is calling to you, "Run for the gate!"
"Enter ye in at the strait gate!" It is the voice of pleading as well as of command—the voice of One who knows your danger and who has provided one way, one only way of escape. "I am the door," declares the Lord Jesus, and that door stands wide open.
You need no prayers, no tears, no goodness of your own to open heaven's gate. Divine love and divine justice have already swung it wide open—the love that sent the Son to die, and the justice that accepted His sacrifice—wide enough to admit any sinner, however great, who comes just as he is to take refuge within.
Come then in all your need, bowing to God's Word that tells us we have all sinned and come short of His glory. God "looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light." Job 33:27, 2827He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; 28He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. (Job 33:27‑28).
A ransom has been found—Jesus gave Himself a ransom for all. "For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Cor. 5:2121For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Won't you accept the way of escape that God offers to you today?