“Four more minutes till the bus rolls,” said Daddy zipping up his jacket. For fourteen years he had been driving the school bus, and kept a clock-like schedule. The children began a mad scramble that somehow repeated itself daily, in spite of the advice given in advance, to have things in readiness.
“Your hair doesn’t look combed to me, Dave,” reminded Mother. Claire remembered at the same moment that she hadn’t brushed her teeth after breakfast. They both rushed in the same direction. Jon scattered a pile of books in an attempt to sort out which ones were his. Ginger followed Mother explaining that she was out of theme paper and needed some money, and Mary needed an excuse written for absence. Al was rummaging through the apple box, looking for some extra ones to eat on the way. The bus horn sounded and there were hasty kisses and good-byes. Some ran out the door, and some rushed back after forgotten lunch boxes and mittens; it was hard to direct traffic without some kind of casualties.
“Where’s my library book — due today!”
“That’s my scarf, your’s is in the closet!”
A scuffling of feet, a slamming of doors; then a sudden roar of the idling bus motor and they were off. All was quiet — and then a small wail arose from the back porch.
“I was just putting my boots on, and he didn’t wait for me!”
“Well, Davie, it looks as if you are left behind, but you know why, don’t you?”
“I just about had them on too.”
“Who didn’t get up when he was called this morning? Who was late to breakfast? You always think there is plenty of time — until it’s too late. Now you will have to run down to “the second chance corner” and see if you can meet the bus at the cross roads as Daddy comes back down the road from Waggoners.”
Mother watched the little fellow run out the gate and head for the crossroads. Yes, sometimes there is a “send chance,” but it is a poor thing to count on. Trifling and delay can be serious. It can mean losing one’s own soul — heaven, and eternity with Christ. So “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” But what if we’re not ready? What if we really meant to get saved? What if we had even thought about it? What if we had listened in Sunday school? What if we had said our verses every Sunday, but had just not turned to Him and been converted?
Sad, sad thought, that it will be these very ones who will come and cry, “Lord, Lord, open unto us!”
He will answer, “I know you not.”
It will be too late, no second chance to be ready then. Oh, do turn from your own willful, stubborn ways, and surrender your life to Christ, who is waiting, beseeching men, women, and children to come to Him. “Him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37). “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4:16, 1716For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16‑17).
ML 09/02/1956