FRITZ was the little three-year-old boy who lived with his father and mother on the Nebraska prairie years ago. Except for the fields his father had plowed and planted, there was only prairie grass as far as anyone could see in every direction.
One day while Fritz was outdoors playing, his father came running to the house shouting, “Fire! There’s a prairie fire coming this way! Come and help me quick!”
Mother rushed to the door, and away to the east she could see smoke rising. Even as she watched it seemed to be coming closer.
“Fritz! Oh! where is Fritz?” Mother called, but there was no answer. “He was playing on the step with his doll a moment ago. Fritz!” she called again.
“Find him quickly and then come and help me build back fires. There’s not a moment to lose!” Father called.
Mother began calling and hunting frantically about the house, the barn and shed; but there was no sign of little Fritz. The clouds of smoke were coming closer swiftly. If little Fritz were not found soon he might be trapped in the terrible fire! Mother prayed as she ran and called, for every moment was precious.
Running to the pastures she climbed upon the gate so she could see as far as possible in every direction. Was that a stone over to the left? Climbing down she ran to see, and there was Fritz, sound asleep in the tall grass with his little homemade doll in his arms.
With tears of thankfulness Mother picked up sleepy Fritz in her arms and ran to the house. Then Mother and Father fought the prairie fire until finally the danger was past. The fields were black and still smoldering on every side as they knelt and gave thanks to God for His deliverance.
Many boys and girls are in greater danger than Fritz was in, and they do not know it! They are sound asleep in their sin!
If they do awaken to their danger and flee to the Lord Jesus as their Saviour, they will find themselves someday in that awful place called hell, suffering everlasting punishment for their sins.
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation [punishment]; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24).
ML-09/22/1974