The following story was told in China years ago. It may or may not be true, but like a parable, it forcibly illustrates some lessons of paramount importance to everyone.
A man once had a dream in which he saw himself pursued by a fearsome tiger. With that peculiar sense that one often has in dreams, he realized that this tiger represented his wicked past life. How he longed to escape! He ran as hard as he could and sometimes he seemed to have escaped. Then he would pause to catch his breath, but only to find the tiger reappear from behind some bushes or trees.
There is within every unsaved person a haunting fear of the wrong he has done in the past. "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23). With some it may be the memory of some outstanding sin; with others it may be an awareness that the whole past has been displeasing to God. God has given us all both conscience and memory and the deeds of the past cannot be entirely dismissed or forgotten.
Attempts are made to escape from the memory of the past. Some plunge into a life of gaiety and amusement; others concentrate on learning and philanthropy. But just when one feels that the past has been safely eluded, "the tiger" reappears. How truly God has said, "Be sure your sin will find you out." Num. 32:2323But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out. (Numbers 32:23).
So the man ran on, more or less confident that someday, somehow he would manage to elude the tiger. But suddenly he came to a chasm and could run no further. As he stood wondering what to do next, he noticed two vines hanging over the side of the chasm. These suggested a way of escape; perhaps he might yet climb down to safety. But when he looked down he saw an even more terrible creature waiting at the bottom. A crocodile! Immediately he recognized this to be his future— judgment and punishment for his sins.
Consider his terrible dilemma. Behind him pursued by his past; before him God's judgment. For "it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27). So he decided to cling to his vines, for there he was safe from both tiger and crocodile— from the sins of the past and from the judgment to come.
The dreamer soon realized that these two vines represented "Time." Many feel secure when they think of all the years of life that lie ahead. Future judgment seems remote when one looks forward to some tens of years of life remaining.
But suddenly he was alarmed by an ominous noise and a strange vibration in the vines. Looking up he saw to his horror that two rats were busily gnawing at his lifeline. One was white and the other was black. What could these be? He soon realized that the white rat represented "Day" and the black rat "Night." So time is being inexorably consumed.
"It is appointed unto men once to die." Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27). This is God's decree. While busily engaged in our work during the day, Time is passing; while sleeping at night, Time is steadily passing; the end perhaps comes slowly. The fact that Time passes slowly may make us forget that it is nevertheless passing and that one day Time will end... and then comes death and judgment.
How helpless and hopeless is our situation! Is there no escape?
Yes, thank God, there is. There is One, and only One, who can save us from even this extremity of peril. In his dream the man saw near at hand a cross. Ah, he knew the significance of that! The cross stood for Jesus, the Savior; it was on the cross that He died for our sins. The man knew that if he clung to the cross complete salvation would be his. And this he did.
If He saves me, there will be no fear of Time. Whenever our time down here ends, eternity with Christ in glory will begin.
How wonderful to live completely free from the remorse of the past. Free from the fear of death. Free from the fear of judgment. Free to enjoy fellowship with this wonderful living Savior both now and forever!
But note: the man had to put his complete trust in the Savior before he could be lifted to safety. It is not enough to recognize Christ, or be told that He can deliver us from the past and from judgment. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31). How foolish to neglect so great salvation! (Heb. 2:33How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:3).)
Reader, time is passing, judgment is waiting. Accept Christ as your personal Savior now.