Memory Verse: “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Proverbs 27:1
Let’s turn our clocks back 180 years to a time when my great-great-great grandfather, John McGowan, was living. Grandpa John was a pioneer in Indiana about 1800. He brought his family from Pennsylvania across the Appalachian Mountains by horseback in 1798 to a home near Vincennes, Indiana. He was a gunsmith and found plenty of work fixing the muskets of the local frontiersmen. Sometimes the Indians also came, and he fixed their guns, too.
In 1812 The area was greatly disturbed by war. Many of the men took warning and set up guards around their houses to protect them. Grandpa John knew he should set up a regular guard over his house at night, but he put it off. He had seven dogs and he thought they were enough to warn him against intruders.
One day a neighbor lady died, and Grandpa John went to work building a coffin in which to bury her. That same day a local man involved in the fighting brought his broken musket to Grandpa John to fix.
“No, I can’t fix it,” he said. “My poor neighbor’s wife has died, and I have to make a coffin to bury her.” The man was insulted and went away very angry. He felt it was just an excuse and was determined to “get even.”
That night Grandpa John was so tired he decided he would wait just one more night to set up a night guard. He felt his seven dogs were enough to warn him. But after nightfall the insulted man and some of his friends quietly approached Grandpa John’s house. They were too smart for the dogs. They approached downwind and the dogs never smelled their scent or heard them.
Are you putting off being saved for some reason? It may seem like a good reason to you, but what about tomorrow. Do you really know that you will be here tomorrow? There are two things that might happen today. The first is that the Lord Jesus Christ may return; “Behold, I come quickly.” Revelation 22:7. If He returns before you are saved, it will be too late. “The Bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut.” Matthew 25:10.
The second thing that might happen is sad to even think about. You might die in your sins. The Bible warns us—“Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Proverbs 27:1. It is very important to make the decision now. Decide for Christ today!
The men looked through a small opening in the log cabin wall. They could barely see by the flickering light from the fireplace, but there asleep on the bed was Grandpa John. One of the men took careful aim—one shot—and Grandpa John was dead! The men ran to the door and tried to break it down. The family was awakened by the shot and the banging on the door. They quickly grabbed buckets of drinking water and milk and threw it on the fire to extinguish the light. Fortunately, the dogs were awakened by the noise and attacked the meh. The family grabbed a musket and fired toward the barking dogs. To their relief the men ran away and were not seen again. But for Grana John it was too late. He had waited too long to post a guard. Don’t be like Grandpa John and wait until the last minute and hope to be saved. Accept Him now as your own personal Saviour. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.
ML-11/02/1980