Mike, Randy, Tommy and little Timmy were brothers. They lived in the country on a small farm. There was lots of room for them to run and play. Mike and Randy were old enough to go to school, but Tommy and Timmy were still too young.
One warm Saturday in the fall, the boys were all playing together outside. After a while they got tired of playing with their trucks and tractors and other toys.
Randy had an idea: “Let’s go play by the creek in the woods.”
“Okay,” said Mike, “let’s go. But, Tommy and Timmy, you can’t go along.”
Randy and Mike head off across the pasture towards the woods without looking back. They ran fast and soon were nearly out of sight. Little Timmy stayed near the house, but Tommy wand to follow his big brothers. So he took off after them, but he was soon out of breath and way behind.
Soon after Mike and Randy reached the creek they took their shoes off and went wading. They threw stones, chased frogs and tried to trap minnows. It was lots of fun as they splashed around, and laughed when one of them would almost lose his balance.
“This is more fun than playing in the yard, isn’t it?” said Mike.
“Yeah,” Randy agreed.
Suddenly, Mike called, “Randy, help me! My feet are stuck in the mud!”
Randy laughed and ran over to help Mike. He tugged and pulled, but still Mike could not get his feet out of the deep, sticky mud. Then Randy discovered something. “Oh, no! I’m stuck, too!” And even though he pulled as hard as he could, he could not get his feet out.
Now both boys were stuck and could not get out!
Randy and Mike both called as loudly as they could, “Mother! Mother! Help us!”
Mother was too far away to hear them, but somebody else heard them. Tommy had finally gotten to the creek and was looking for his brothers. He had not found them, but he was close enough to hear them calling for help. He poked his head through the bushes near the boys and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Oh, Tommy!” cried the boys, “Run and tell Mother to come help us! We’re stuck in the mud! Hurry, Tommy, go get Mother!”
Tommy ran as fast as his little legs could go. Mother was already out looking for the boys. She saw Tommy crawling under the fence.
“Tommy!” Mother scolded, “Where have you been? And where are Randy and Mike?”
“They’re stuck in the mud, Mommy! Come help them, quick!”
Mother was frightened! She did not like that muddy creek and had warned the boys to stay away from it. With Tommy leading the way they ran to the creek. “I wish your Father were here,” she said to Tommy as they ran.
When she got to the boys, she was careful to stay clear of the mud. She found some large rocks and set them in the mud near the boys. While standing on the rocks, she dug away at the mud around their legs with her hands.
When the boys were finally free, they were sorry about Mother’s cut and bleeding fingers. Mother did not need to warn the boys about the creek any more. They knew it was not a safe place to play.
There is another place where it is not safe to be, and that is in this world without the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour. Without Him as their Saviour there are children (and older people, too) who are trapped in their sins and have not been set free. Even though they try different ways they cannot free themselves. They are just like Randy and Mike when they were stuck in the mud. They need someone else to help them.
For sinners, the only way to escape the trap of sin is through the Lord Jesus Christ. He tells us in the Bible, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6). It is only by realizing that we are sinners who cannot help ourselves and by calling to the Lord Jesus for help that we can be set free. He has promised, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:3737All 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).
If you see that you are a sinner and believe that Christ took all the punishment for your sins on the cross, God promises you everlasting life. But God also says that if you will not accept His plan of freedom through the Lord Jesus Christ, then you will have to be punished for your own sins. “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 3:3636He 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).
Won’t you ask the Lord Jesus for His help? He loves you and wants to set you free. “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 40:22He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. (Psalm 40:2).
ML-10/31/1982