There is a country in Europe called Holland. Some of you are old enough to go to school and have studied about this wonderful country. Much of it is below the sea level.
In many places, walls, called dikes, have been built along the streams to keep the water from over-flowing the land. Sometimes one of these dikes breaks. Then the water pours in over the land, and causes a great deal of trouble.
In our picture we see the water up almost to the roofs of the houses. See those clear little chicks! Do you know what they are in? It looks like a wooden shoe—the kind of shoe that people in Holland wear. Because it is made of wood it is light enough to float and keep the water out.
How safe the chicks are in this lifeboat. The water cannot touch them. The big wooden shoe is a place of refuge which means a place of shelter or safety.
Do you know, dear children, where you can find refuge in all kinds of trouble and danger? There is a beautiful verse that says,—
He is glad to protect you from harm and danger if you trust in Him. He also wants to protect you from the punishment that we all deserve as sinners. He died on the cross to bear the punishment of your sins and mine. So in Him we find refuge from the punishment we deserve, if we believe in Him as our Saviour, and there will be no other refuge,—no other life-boat,——-when God pours out His judgment on this sinful world.
Dear reader, if you are not safe in Christ, turn to Him at once. You may not have another opportunity. Turn to Him today for refuge. Tomorrow may be too late.
ML 01/19/1936