It was a beautiful spring day, and it was time for the school children to be let out of school. We lived in the country on a farm and went to a one-room schoolhouse where the teacher taught all grades, 1 Through 8. Our house was over a mile from school, and on nice afternoons we would walk home. My sisters and I always looked forward to enjoying a peanut butter sandwich with a cold glass of milk when we got home. It seemed like that was a good reward for our long walk.
I arrived home ahead of my sisters, went inside and opened the basement door. I called for Mom who seemed to always be waiting for us, but to my surprise there was no answer. I looked around and there was no note, only lunch dishes on the table, clothes lying over the chairs, and shoes on the floor. It looked like Dad and Mom had left in a hurry.
I quickly forgot about my sandwich. The first thing that came to my mind was that the Lord Jesus had come and taken them to heaven, and now I was left behind!
You see, I had heard many times of the love of God and how He had sent His Son, the Lord Jesus, to die on the cross and shed His precious blood for the sins of all those who had accepted Him as their Saviour. I hadn’t done that, and now I thought it was too late! I was going to be lost forever! I had learned the Bible verse, “How shall we escape [the punishment for our sins], if we neglect so great salvation?” (Hebrews 2:33How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:3)).
There were so many things running through my mind, and tears were running down my face. I knew I had never opened my heart’s door and let the Lord Jesus come in and wash away my sins. I knew the verse that says, “Behold, 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 [eat] 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)).
Boys and girls, I urge you to open your heart’s door right now and receive the Lord Jesus as your Saviour. He tells us, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)). Tomorrow might be too late, because He could take all believers home to heaven even today!
I’m thankful to tell you that soon I heard voices, and my parents came into the house. Seeing my tear-streaked face, they quickly explained that the reason they weren’t home was because they had to go take care of something quickly.
God used that scare to save my soul, and I keep thanking Him. It was God speaking to me once again, and maybe He is speaking to you today. “Today if [you] will hear His voice, harden not your hearts” (Hebrews 4:77Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. (Hebrews 4:7)). Won’t you come to Him right now before it is too late? He loves you so very much and is waiting to receive you with open arms just as you are. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)).
ML-05/29/2011