The water rose higher and higher in the Eel River. The heavy rains and the melting of winter’s heavy snows had filled all the streams and rivers. “Will it never end?” asked Ernie of the man next to him as they filled sand bags as fast as possible. The sand bags were being loaded on trucks and taken to places on the river where the water was starting to rise over the banks.
All over the state rivers were flooding. Highways and railroad tracks were covered and were being washed away. Homes and other buildings were flooding, and people were being rescued by boats or helicopters. Farmers were helpless to save their crops planted on the floodplain. They drove their animals to higher ground after their barns and corrals were destroyed. Day after day warnings went out for people to be aware of the danger around creeks, streams and rivers.
“Hey, Ernie, come here,” called his boss above the noise of the trucks. “There’s an old hermit living in a cabin in the woods where Bull Creek meets the Eel. Take Steve and Bob with you and make sure he gets out. The water is going to be at his front door in a few hours. If he won’t leave, carry him out!”
The three men climbed into the four-wheel-drive pickup truck and headed for Bull Creek. Several detours prevented them from taking the shortest way to the cabin. Finally after a difficult trip back along the long, winding dirt road they reached the lonely cabin.
After looking over the place, Ernie remarked, “No sign of the old man. He’s probably gone, but let’s check the cabin to make sure.”
Climbing out of the truck, they walked through the drenching rain to the front of the cabin and knocked loudly. There was no answer, so they knocked again.
In God’s Word, the Bible, we are warned many times about the judgment that will come on this world because of sin. God judged the world once with a flood and destroyed everything except the people and creatures who were with Noah in the ark. God has promised the world will be judged again, but not with a flood. There is a place of safety, just like there was in Noah’s time. Instead of an ark, this place of safety is a person—God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
The three men in our story left their place of safety to warn and hopefully rescue the old hermit. The Lord Jesus came into the world to save sinners. He has said to this world, “God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:1717For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:17). The Lord Jesus also said in John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24), “He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation [judgment]; but is passed from death unto life.”
Have you listened to God’s warnings? The Lord Jesus was punished on the cross for any who would believe in Him. By accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour you will not “come into judgment,” but will have everlasting life that will be spent with Him in heaven.
If you do not know the Lord Jesus as your own Saviour, you still have time to come to Him for safety. Ernie and his two friends knocked at the door of the old hermit’s cabin.
God says, “I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:2020Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20). Ernie wanted to rescue the old man if he were there. God loves you so much that He wants you to be saved. Don’t wait until later. Open the door and let the Saviour come into your life. You will not be disappointed.
As Ernie knocked the second time he heard the latch being opened from inside and the door slowly opened.
“What do you want?” growled the old man. “This is private property!”
“The river is rising fast,” explained Ernie. “Within the hour this area is going to be flooded.”
“See that peg in the ground behind you?” pointed the old man. “I’ve lived here for 50 years, and the water has never come higher than that peg. And it’s not going to come any higher this time either!”
Ernie and the others tried to explain to the old man that this flood was much worse than any before, but he would not leave. They finally had to pick up the old man and carry him to the truck. He struggled and yelled, but could not get away. They knew that he needed to be rescued, even if he didn’t know it.
As they tried to make room in the truck for the old man, he broke away and quickly ran back into his cabin and bolted the door. No amount of pleading by the three men could convince the old man to open the door. They tried getting in the windows, but they were too small. They tried to break down the door, but couldn’t. The cabin was built solidly, but could it stand up to the onrushing Eel River?
The old man was going to trust his life to the safety of his cabin. That was all he knew and that is what he believed in. Would he be right and not have needed the rescue efforts of the three men? The Eel River soon would answer that question!
What is your faith built on? The Lord Jesus tells a story in Matthew 7:24-2724Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. (Matthew 7:24‑27) about two men who built houses. One was built on a solid rock foundation, and the other was built on sand. Both houses were fine... until a flood came and washed out the sand foundation. That house collapsed while the house on the rock stood firm.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation rock on which a Christian’s faith and hope are built. It is as firm as Christ Himself. Nothing can destroy it! Is this your foundation, or are you trusting in something else? Remember God’s words in Acts 4:1212Neither 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), “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Christ is the only place of safety from the judgment for sins that will come upon every unsaved person in this world. If He is your Saviour you have nothing to fear.
The river had continued to rise while Ernie and his two friends tried to convince the old man to leave the cabin. They heard the roar as a new wall of water roared down Bull Creek. A storm in the mountains on already rain-soaked ground had sent this wall of water down the swollen creek. Ernie and the others jumped into the truck and left, making it just in time to higher ground. With no place for the wall of water to run into the flooded river, it backed up around the cabin. From their safe, higher spot the three men looked back just as the raging torrent hit the cabin with such force that it was torn from its foundation and smashed to pieces.
What must have been the thoughts then of the old man who had locked himself inside his cabin. His trust in the strength of his cabin was a real trust, but it was in the wrong thing. What are you trusting in?
ML-09/16/1984