“Hey, Jean,” called Faith, “if you’d get this old sewing machine for Lorraine, she’d love you forever!”
The two sisters had just arrived at an antique store, and outside the front of the store was a large bin with a sign on the front of it: ALL ITEMS $1.00. “Wow, only one dollar!” exclaimed Jean. “Sure, I can afford that!” And so Jean picked up the old treadle sewing machine for their sister, Lorraine, knowing she loved antiques, and took it to the cashier and paid the dollar.
The old machine did need some cleaning up, and so Jean took it home and gave it a good wipe- over with a damp cloth. Lorraine was delighted when Jean gave her the machine and decided to borrow some rust remover from her mother to get it cleaned up even nicer.
When Lorraine got the rust remover, she quickly looked at the back of the bottle for directions. She saw something about wearing rubber gloves, but she thought, Oh what a bother, and, grabbing an old rag, set to work. It took some hard rubbing, but she was quite happy with the way the machine was cleaning up. After she finished she decided to rest. Suddenly, she realized her fingers were burning! They did look a little red and were becoming more painful by the minute! She decided to put her hands into ice water, but that didn’t seem to bring much relief. James, her husband, had the day off, and she showed him her hands. He was quite surprised with Lorraine’s answer, when he asked her if she had worn rubber gloves and she told him “no.” Picking up the bottle of rust remover, he said, “But it has a warning right here that says to wear rubber gloves!” They decided it was best to head to the Emergency Room at a nearby hospital.
Yes, Lorraine had not heeded the warning and was suffering much because of it. And, boys and girls, God has placed not only one, but many warnings in His book, the Bible. And if you do not heed His warnings and accept His offer of the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you will suffer for your sins for all eternity.
When James and Lorraine arrived at the Emergency Room, they were thankful that the doctor knew of a special medicine they could put on Lorraine’s hands that brought relief. The doctor told Lorraine that sometimes people lose their fingernails when they use acid that strong without protection. He told her she was very fortunate.
And so there was help for Lorraine, and her hands recovered. But if you should refuse God’s warning and go on in your sinful ways not accepting His free offer of salvation, there will be no second chance for you once this life is over. Now is the time for you to come to the loving Saviour. Tomorrow may be too late! “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)). “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” (Hebrews 2:33How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:3)).
ML-06/20/1999