Dear Children,
I am writing this letter to tell you what Gramma and I saw when we had just finished eating our breakfast. We were sitting looking out the kitchen window at the brand new, beautiful, white blanket of snow that had fallen through the night. The snow was about one inch deep. Gramma reminded us what God’s Word says in Isaiah 1:1818Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18): “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”
Just about then, Gramma got all excited and said, “I see a little red squirrel, and it’s starting to run across the yard!”
I said, “Gramma, are you sure it’s a red squirrel?” I asked her that question because we rarely see a red squirrel. We see lots of big gray squirrels and black squirrels but not red ones.
Then she said, “He stopped, and now he’s running back under the tree.” She sat watching the squirrel, and then suddenly she said, “He’s starting to run again just as fast as he can go towards the far evergreen tree!”
So I looked out and, sure enough, it was Reddy the squirrel running like his life depended on it! And then, like a flash, we saw the reason why Reddy was dashing for the evergreen tree! Here came the reason, diving out of the sky! It was Mr. Redtail the hawk! Reddy was running as fast as he could go! . . . and Mr. Redtail was zooooming down as fast as he could dive! Wow! And then . . . ZINGO!
Now, children, don’t you read the end of this letter to find out what happened, okay? First, let me tell you that Reddy knew that Mr. Redtail was up there in the sky, just waiting and watching for him to make that run to the next tree. Reddy also knew that Mr. Redtail is his deadly enemy. Yes, Reddy knew all these things, BUT . . . he was still willing to take that chance of getting to the next tree before Mr. Redtail could catch him. And Mr. Redtail sure was planning to have Reddy for his breakfast!
Now, let me tell you about a king found in the Bible in the Book of Daniel, chapter 5. His name was Belshazzar and his grandfather’s name was Nebuchadnezzar. Now then, God had taught Nebuchadnezzar some very painful lessons so he would be humble and respect God. Sadly, Belshazzar was not the least bit interested in what God had done for his grandfather. He was going to take the chance of living his kingly life without God.
So, one night Belshazzar made a big party for all the people in his palace. At that party, the people were doing things that were very bad. In other words, they were sinning against God.
God saw and heard what was going on at the party. Then God wrote on the wall just four words! The party became very silent, and there was no more loud music and joking around then. The people could not understand what the writing on the wall said. So the king called in a man by the name of Daniel who could understand the writing.
First of all, Daniel reminded Belshazzar of the lessons God had taught his grandfather. And then Daniel also reminded him that even though he knew all this, he still did not respect and honor God. Then Daniel explained to Belshazzar what the four words on the wall were saying: God has numbered your kingdom and finished it. Tonight you will die! And that night Belshazzar was killed, and another king took his place. How sad that Belshazzar did not listen to the words of his grandfather!
Children, as you are reading these stories, you have heard that you must be saved from your sins to be rescued from going down to hell. Here’s a good Bible verse for you to read. Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31) says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”
“Grampa, now tell us what happened to Reddy.”
Well . . . as we said, Mr. Redtail was in a zooming dive for Reddy, and Reddy was running like his life depended on it! At the very last moment, Reddy made a dashing dive right under the outstretched branches of that evergreen tree. SAVED! Mr. Redtail was so close that when he swooped upwards, his wings brushed snow off the branches of the evergreen tree!
The chance that Reddy took running for the evergreen tree almost cost him his life! Boys and girls, don’t take chances with your soul! Sing this Sunday school chorus with Gramma and me, and pay close attention to what it’s telling you.
Trust the Saviour early, Jesus says today,
While you’re young and tender, choose the narrow way,
Lest when you grow older, Satan snares your feet,
And you miss the way to heaven’s golden street.
We love you, children,
From Gramma and Grampa
ML-12/05/2004