It was summertime, and our family had gone to the Saint John River area out in the countryside to visit our aunt and uncle on their farm. There were cows to milk, a horse to ride, the hay to bring in, and a large, unfriendly bull to watch out for. After a day full of chores and fun, it was time to settle down for the night.
It was decided that big brother David, who was nine, and younger sister Jane, who was eight, along with little brother Enos, who was four, would get to sleep in the little cabin which was across the busy highway and beyond a very long field. It was by the edge of the woods and underneath a big elm tree. Dad and Mother, along with Uncle Ken and Aunt Muriel and other relatives, got to sleep in the big, two-story white house, which was up the long gravel driveway.
Little Enos was very tired and fell asleep right away in the cabin. But David and Jane were not that tired, so they lay in their beds listening to the wind blow outside. After a while, they heard a scraping noise.
“Listen,” said David. “What do you think that was?”
“I don’t know,” said Jane.
So, they listened some more. After a few minutes they heard scraaape! David said, “I think it’s a bear!” Jane said, “I do, too!” Then David said, “If it’s a bear, I’m going to run!” Jane said, “If you run, I’m not staying!” But they didn’t run just yet. Instead, they waited and listened closely. Sure enough, after a few minutes they heard another scraaape! This is when David said, “I’m going to run!” and Jane said, “Me too!”
Jumping out of bed, and not even bothering to put on their shoes, they flung open the cabin door and raced across the newly cut hay field and across the very busy highway. Then they ran up the long, gravel driveway to the big, two-story house. Racing up the wooden steps, they flung open the kitchen door and burst into the room full of surprised adults who were sitting around the big table enjoying apple and rhubarb pie. Into the total silence that followed, David frantically announced, “Dad, a bear! A bear!” “Yes, yes,” said Jane, “a bear!”
David and Jane had allowed their imaginations to run wild. Not only that, they had left their little brother Enos behind, with no thought for his safety. They did not realize that their parents would not have let them sleep in the cabin if there had been any chance of danger. After the adults talked it over, it was decided that Dad and David would sleep in the cabin, and Jane would sleep with her mother in the house.
These two children ran when there was no need. But, boys and girls, do you know that the Bible tells us that we need to flee from the wrath to come? This is because our sins make us unclean in God’s sight. God is pure and holy, and He cannot have sin in His presence. That is why God sent His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus, to die on Calvary’s cross for us. When we place our trust and faith in the Lord Jesus, His blood cleanses us from all sin. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth [is now] on him” (John 3:36). God promises us that those who put their trust in Jesus will be saved, which means to have eternal life. And everyone who has eternal life will live with Jesus in heaven forever. Won’t you put your trust in Him now? “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).
But that is not the end of the story. David and Jane did hear something, but what was it? The next morning they discovered what had made the noise. Do you remember that the cabin was underneath an old elm tree? Hanging low from the elm tree was a big branch. Every time a strong gust of wind came, it would blow the branch against the cabin rooftop. It was this scraping sound that had scared David and Jane. Dad was able to cut off the big branch, solving the problem for good.
ML-11/05/2017