The trouble could not have come at a worse time for the Patterson family. Mr. Patterson was away from the farm. Mrs. Patterson was still on crutches with a broken leg that she had gotten in a car accident a month before. Eleven-year-old David and nine-year-old Gordon were both just getting over the flu, and Judy, their older sister, was working in town.
Suddenly, as David looked out the kitchen window, he saw smoke in the pasture between the barn and the road that passed their farm.
“Mom, look! Something’s burning in the pasture!” yelled David.
“What’s on fire?” called Mother from the next room as she hobbled out on her crutches.
“Hey, the grass is on fire near the road,” cried David, “and it’s burning toward the barn! Look at all the smoke! Oh, it’s going to burn down the barn!”
“Quick, David, get some buckets from the shed and go get water to throw on the fire!” directed Mrs. Patterson. “You can get water from the trough by the barn. I’ll call the fire department.”
“I’m coming, too,” yelled Gordon, following his brother out the door.
“Oh, do be careful!” called Mother anxiously as she dialed the fire department. She had never felt so helpless in all her life. Everything they owned was in danger, but with her leg in a cast there was nothing she could do but call for help.
Each one of us as sinners cannot do anything about our sins. We might be in good health with no broken bones, and work as hard as we can to earn our way to heaven.
What do you think the result will be? The Bible plainly tells us, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23). Each of us is a sinner. We might try to do good things that we think will help us get to heaven. But what does God say about those “good things"? “We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” Isaiah 64:66But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6). There is an answer, though; there is help. Although Mrs. Patterson could not fight the fire herself, there were others she could go to for help. While she was dialing the fire department, her two young “firemen” were fighting the blaze.
The help for sinners is the Lord Jesus Christ. It was He who in His great love for sinners was punished on the cross for the sins of all who would believe in Him. If you realize that you are a helpless sinner, on your way to that awful place called hell, then turn right now to the only Person who can help you. The Lord Jesus says, “Come unto Me.” Matthew 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28). In Isaiah 43:1111I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour. (Isaiah 43:11) we read, “I, even I, am the Lord; and beside Me there is no saviour.” This is the answer for your helpless condition. The Lord Jesus has already done everything that is needed for you to be saved. All you have to do is accept His offer of freedom from your sins.
Gordon and David grabbed buckets from the shed and filled them from the water trough. They ran to the burning grass closest to the barn and threw the water on the flames. Then they ran back for more water and back again to the fire.
Back and forth they ran, but it looked like they were losing the fight. After all, how could two boys with buckets put out a big brush fire?
“Keep at it, boys!” called their mother. “The fire department is on the way.”
The boys worked harder. They were keeping the fire from moving so fast toward the barn, tractors and animals. But it was still creeping closer. They were not going to be able to stop it. The buckets were heavy, and they were getting so tired. Still, they worked as hard as they could.
Just as the fire reached the corner of the barn, a fire engine roared into the driveway. In no time the firemen with their hoses and shovels were working beside them. It was not long until the fire was completely out. They had won—the barn, animals and equipment were saved!
The boys were brave firemen! Do you think their mother was pleased with them? I’m sure she was, and so was their father when he got back and heard all about what they had done.
Yes, David and Gordon had kept back the fire until the firemen got there to put it out. They kept it back, but they could not stop it by themselves. They needed the firemen to do the job.
There is nothing you can do to save yourself from the punishment your sins require. The Lord Jesus Christ is the only One who can wash away those sins and save you from that punishment. He is waiting for you to call for His help. Won’t you come to Him right now? Then you can claim this verse for yourself: “God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge.” Psalms 62:77In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. (Psalm 62:7).
ML-08/07/1983