There were lots of bears in the woods surrounding the village where Mac and Meg grew up. Their daddy told them that it was safe to play in the woods as long as they were talking or making noise and following the trails through the woods to the cliffs. If the bears heard you coming, you would never see them because they would leave. He said that bears were shy of people, and that the only time there would be danger was if you got between a mother bear and her cubs. When that happens, the mother bear becomes angry and may attack the person.
Mac and Meg had some school friends that lived a short distance from them. Their family had two cows that sometimes spent the day grazing in a clearing in the woods. This clearing was a large, open area where bushes and grasses grew. Bert (6) and Bess (8) followed the trail to the clearing to bring the cows back for milking. When they got there, they saw two bears in the clearing with the cows! They quickly turned around and ran as fast as their feet could carry them back home!
“Daddy, daddy, there are two bears in the clearing!”
Mr. Norton quickly loaded his gun and headed for the clearing, instructing Bert and Bess to stay home! They had run for refuge to the safety of their home.
Dear boys and girls, you also need to run for refuge to the Savior of sinners. The shepherd boy David, in the Bible, could say, “The God of my rock; in Him will I trust: He is my shield, and the [strength] of my salvation, my [stronghold] and my refuge” (2 Samuel 22:33The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. (2 Samuel 22:3)). David knew he couldn’t defeat the enemy by himself, and neither can we. We need to have our sins forgiven. “When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:66For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)).
Mr. Norton was able to shoot and kill one of the bears. The other bear escaped. After he had his cows safely in the barn and taken care of, Mr. Norton took his horses and wagon back to the clearing. With the help of an older son, they loaded the dead bear onto the wagon. Then He hauled the wagon out to the road.
Word spread quickly through the village that Mr. Norton had shot a bear and that it was by the side of the road. That evening Mac and Meg’s daddy went to see this large bear, and he took Mac and Meg with him. By this time it was dark, and many other neighbors were there too, shining flashlights on the bear. Even though Meg knew the bear was dead, it looked very scary to her, and she held tightly onto her daddy’s hand, trusting him to keep her safe.
Boys and girls, the Lord Jesus came to earth to save us from our enemy, Satan. When Jesus died on the cross, Satan was defeated. However, Satan is still out there making trouble, but if you and I have our trust in the Lord Jesus, He will protect us.
This little story should not close without a word of warning to our young readers. Few of you live in an area where you are in danger from wild animals. However, there are other dangers present. Cell phones and gaming have great danger for you. Do you obey your parents in what games you play and what you watch? Satan has used the Internet to destroy many young lives. Is what you play or watch pleasing to the Lord Jesus?
ML-05/20/2018