One afternoon, Paul and Jean were playing on the shore of Lake Erie. High on the bank above them was their cottage. They really loved spending the summer right on the lakeshore, away from the city! Father came here each night after work, and Mother was always there with them at the cottage. During the days, Paul and Jean had a wonderful time at the lake, looking out the window of the cottage and watching the boats go by. Sometimes they watched the big waves when the storms came over the lake. And there were always the seagulls circling and crying overhead that they could watch.
Many days, like today, they played down by the lake, swimming, building sand castles, skipping rocks, and eating the picnic lunches Mother packed for them. But today something was different. A storm was gathering, and they could see huge, black clouds in the distance. Somehow it didn’t make them want to stay by the water, away from Mother. They decided to head home.
Mother was surprised to see them home so soon. When she asked them why they were back, Paul told her that a storm was coming with big, black clouds.
Mother hurried to a window to look out across the lake, and what she saw filled her with alarm. A cloud shaped like a funnel was headed straight for their cottage! It seemed to be bouncing along the lake, sometimes dipping low and touching the water, other times rising in the air. She quickly realized it was a tornado!
Then Mother remembered ... God was with her and the children. Turning to them, she said, “Paul and Jean, come with me. Let’s go down to the cellar and pray. That big cloud coming over the lake is bringing danger. Let’s ask our heavenly Father to protect us.”
They ran down the steps into the cellar and prayed, asking God to save them and their cottage from the tornado. God’s Word, the Bible, says, “He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him” (Psalm 91:1515He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him. (Psalm 91:15)). “It shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:2424And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. (Isaiah 65:24)).
God did hear them, just like He promised, and answered their prayers to protect them. When the tornado reached the shore below their cottage, it hit against the high bank where their cottage sat, bounced up in the air, and went over the top of the cottage. Then it came down to the ground again behind the cottage and continued on its destructive path. How thankful the family was that God hears and answers the prayers of His children. “He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust” (Psalm 91:44He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. (Psalm 91:4)).
Children, there is something coming to this earth that will be much worse than any tornado. After the Lord Jesus takes all who truly trust in Him up to heaven, there will come such an awful time on this earth that even big, strong men’s hearts will fail them for fear. God is going to judge this world for all the sin that has taken place here. And even worse than that, people who won’t accept the Lord Jesus, God’s Son, as their Saviour now will spend eternity in an awful place called hell, which is the lake of fire.
However, we have good news for you. Not one of you has to experience either of these horrible things. God has made a way of escape! He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross, where He was punished for the sins of anyone who will accept Him as their very own Saviour. If you will believe God’s good news that Jesus took all the judgment you deserve for your sins, you will be safe from the judgment coming on this world. He now offers this loving gift of salvation to you, because He loves you so much. But you need to accept this priceless gift to make it your own.
If you know you have sinned, why not talk to God in prayer and tell Him you want to accept His free gift of salvation? He says, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise [no way] 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)). That means that if you go to Him in prayer, telling Him you have sinned and that you want the Lord Jesus to be your own Saviour, He will hear your prayer and make you His own child forever and ever.
Why not do that right now and be safe forever?
ML-09/19/2010