IT was in the depths of winter and a poor little lamb lying frozen on an ice-flow was to be seen drifting down the great Niagara River. Presently a large eagle saw the lamb, and, swooping down from the sky, it alighted on the ice-floe beside it.
How little the eagle thought as he stood there that the water was slowly but surely freezing around his claws and soon he would be firmly held in the grip of the ice. The frozen lamb before him spoke loudly as a warning of the danger of staying there too long, but the warning was unheeded. Every few minutes the eagle would flap his strong wings as much as to say, "I have these powerful wings to carry me off whenever I please."
How like many to-day, not listening to the voice of those around them who would warn them of the danger of going on—captives in the grip of sin—without a Savior! Perhaps they are not ready to admit that they do need a Savior; they may be boasting in the power of their good works, but listen to what the Bible tells us about these: "All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags," Isa. 64:66But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6). No one can get away from the fact that "all have sinned," and that nothing that any one may do can remove even one of these sins, for it is the blood alone which maketh atonement for the soul.
Well, this eagle still stood feasting on the little lamb and presently the Niagara Falls came in sight. The eagle waited until
“The eagle stood feasting on the lamb.”
the last minute and then, raising his great wings once again, he tried to leave the ice, but alas! his feet were firmly frozen, his efforts were useless, and in a second the ice-floe went over the Falls, carrying the eagle with it.
He meant to escape. Yes! He had plenty of opportunities, but he put them all off and it cost him his life. He thought he was safe, but he was just too late.
What a warning this eagle should be to any boy or girl who thinks there is plenty of time. Satan loves to whisper in our ears: "To-morrow will do."
Are you going to listen to a voice like that? It is untrue, for the Bible tells us that "NOW is the day of salvation." To-morrow may be too late. How true is the chorus which says: —
Be in time. Be in time.
While the voice of Jesus calls you,
Be in time.
If in sin you longer wait,
You may find no open gate,
And your cry be just too late;
Be in time.
May you take the opportunity to-day of trusting in Jesus and knowing Him as your own Savior and Friend. Such is His wonderful love that He is waiting to receive you just as you are, and to cleanse you from your sins in His own precious blood—shed when He died to save.
G. H. S. P.