A TERRIBLE forest fire raged in Minnesota. Every building in the town of Hinckley lay in ruins, and many of the inhabitants perished in the flames. While the fire raged, the panic-stricken people rushed hither and thither in wild confusion, actually pushing each other into the burning furnace. In the midst of the confusion, a voice was heard saying, “Hurry to the gravel pit!”
“What will that do for us?” was the scornful reply by one.
“Better use your legs and run from it,” said another.
But a few of the simple folk heeded the call, and followed the speaker to the pit, where acting according to his directions, they soon found themselves standing to the neck in cool water. A ring of blazing timber and houses soon surrounded their place of safety. For hours they stood in the fierce heat with blistered lips and scorched faces, while the tongues of fire leaped all around them.
One man encouraged the others by telling them they were perfectly safe, and getting a bucket, he drenched their heads with water to keep them cool. At last the fire passed across the country, burning up everything as it went. But the little band who fled to the gravel pit and stood there, were safe, while others perished. They stood in an element upon which the flames could not feed. Nay, it repelled them. In the midst of death and destruction, that little band stood in life and safety. So stands the sinner who has fled to Christ.
The judgment of a righteous God, like that devouring fire, will one day pass over this world, consuming the ungodly. Only those who have fled for refuge to the cross of Christ, will be safe on that day. No wrath, no judgment can reach them there. On the contrary, life flows to them from that cross, and through the death of Him who hung there for sinners. All other refuges will fail. In Christ alone is life eternal. In Him there is safety from judgment. There is “no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” Rom. 8:11There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1).
Are you sure that you are in Him? Have you fled for safety to the Son of God, the only Refuge?
ML-03/18/1962