“Four more minutes till the bus rolls!” announced Dad as he zipped up his jacket. He had been driving the school bus for the last 14 years, and he kept an on-time schedule! His announcement made the children in his family do a mad scramble, even though they had been warned earlier to get their stuff ready to go.
“Your hair doesn’t look combed to me, Herbie,” reminded his mom. Then Beth remembered that she hadn’t brushed her teeth. Sam scattered a pile of books in an attempt to sort out which ones were his. Beth followed Mom, explaining that she needed money to buy paper for school, and Randy suddenly remembered he needed an excuse written for yesterday’s absence. Sam rummaged through the apple box, looking for some extra ones to eat on the way. Then they heard the impatient bus horn, and there were quick kisses and good-byes. Some ran out the door and then rushed back in after forgotten lunches and mittens. It’s a wonder they didn’t knock each other down in the scramble. Then the door slammed, followed by the roar of the bus engine, and they were off.
All was quiet ... then a wail came from the back porch: “I was just putting on my boots, and he didn’t wait for me!”
“Well, Herbie, it looks as if you are left behind, but you know why, don’t you?”
“I just about had them on, too,” was his sad answer.
“Who didn’t get up when he was called this morning? Who was late for breakfast? You always think there’s plenty of time—until it’s too late. Now you will have to run down to “second chance corner” and see if you can meet the bus at the crossroads as Dad comes back down the road from Wagners.” She watched him run out the gate and head for the corner at the crossroads.
Yes, sometimes there is a “second chance,” as there was for Herbie. But there isn’t always a “second chance.” Here’s a Bible verse with very good advice: “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; 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)).
Many of you children have parents who belong to the Lord Jesus, and they have told you that the Bible tells us Jesus is coming back soon, and it may be today! He is coming to take everyone who has accepted Him as their very own Saviour home to heaven to live with Him in His happy home. If you have not asked Jesus to wash away your sins, you won’t be able to go to heaven with Him when He comes. You will be left behind, and there will be NO SECOND CHANCE then. It will be very, very sad, because you are too late!
Don’t wait until tomorrow; don’t even wait until you say your prayers at bedtime tonight! Talk to Jesus right now about your sins. He loves you very, very much and will wash you clean from every sin. Then when He comes to take everyone to heaven whose sins have been washed away, you will be ready to go!
Just as Dad warned the children the bus was leaving in four minutes, Jesus warns you that you shouldn’t wait any longer to talk to Him about your sins: “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)).
Don’t be left behind!
ML-11/29/2015