“Okay, It’s Time to go swimming,” called Mother. The six children raced out and crowded into the station wagon. No one cared if they were a bit squashed. They were off for an afternoon of fun at the pool.
They were all chattering happily as Mother drove toward town along the hilly, curvy road between the rolling wheat fields. As they came down one hill and made a sharp turn, they looked up the next hill to see a wall of fire crackling over the ridge! A field of golden wheat was on fire. The long arms of flames left only black, smoldering stubble behind as they burned their way down the hill.
Everyone pressed against the windows to see the fire. “Let’s stop and watch,” a couple of the older children said.
So Mother pulled over and stopped the car a safe distance away.
But five-year-old Lois didn’t want to stop. She was scared. “No! no!” she cried, “let’s keep going!”
But the rest couldn’t pull their eyes away from what they were seeing flames leaping forward and gobbling up the wheat. They wanted to stay.
Soon they could feel the scorching heat even inside the car. Poor little Lois was more frightened than she’d ever been in her life.
The tumbleweed in the ditch beside the road suddenly caught fire. Now everyone wanted to leave. Mother decided it was time to move. She turned the key in the ignition... but the car wouldn’t start.
It seemed to Lois that the tongues of flames were reaching out to wrap themselves around the car. Fear gripped her and she looked around for a way of escape. She saw a newly plowed field on the hill behind them. There was nothing on it for the fire to burn. She made up her mind.
Quickly Lois climbed out the open back window of the station wagon and raced for the plowed field. She knew that if she could get away from the awful heat to the cool, moist dirt she would be safe!
This was a very scary fire, but it wouldn’t burn forever it would eventually stop when there was nothing left to burn. Because the Lord Jesus loves us so much He came to warn us about a fire that will never stop. The Bible calls it the lake of fire, or hell. The Lord Jesus loves you and wants to save you from your sins so you will never be in that awful place. He wants you to come live with Him in heaven where you will be safe and happy.
Little Lois was running as fast as her legs could carry her up the hill to that field of safety. There was nothing left in that field for the fire to burn. That plowed field is a little picture of the safety we can have in the Lord Jesus. He is that “field of safety” for sinners to run to. He has already passed through the fire of God’s just anger against sin. And now He offers us forgiveness of sins and a place of safety. “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Ephesians 1:77In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7).
Mother was trying desperately to start the car. She didn’t know Lois had climbed out the back window until one of the other children called out, “Look at Lois running up the hill.” She sent teenage Rick to bring her back. Lois was almost to the field when Rick caught up to her and carried her back to the car.
Mother still couldn’t start the car. By now they were all terribly hot, thirsty and frightened, and praying to the Lord Jesus for help. He soon answered those prayers and sent a truck along to pick them all up. Now they were safe. Later they also were able to go back and tow the car home.
If you are still in your sins, do you see your danger? If you will come to the Lord Jesus admitting your guilt as a sinner, He will forgive you and write your name in His book of life. This puts you in that place of safety where there is nothing left for the fire to burn.
ML-05/05/1991