One of the best memories from my boyhood was the building of a new highway near our house. This was more than 60 years ago, long before anyone thought of super highways like the interstate highway system we have today. It was also before heavy, road-building machines were made, such as bulldozers and large earth movers. Cars were becoming more and more numerous, so there was a need for a coast-to-coast highway across the United States. And this was the highway that was being built near our house.
You may wonder how all the dirt was moved in building a highway back then. They used a horse-drawn scoop called a fresno. This heavy metal tool looked like a huge shovel with high sides and was pulled by a team of two or more horses or mules. Handles, similar to those on a wheelbarrow, were attached to its sides. A man walked behind, tilting the scoop up just enough so it would dig out dirt and fill the fresno. Once full, the operator would lower the handles so the scoop would slide along the ground without taking on more dirt. The team driver, called a “mule skinner,” would direct the team of horses to where the dirt was needed, quickly pick up on the handles to dump that load and return for more. Can you imagine how slowly road building went in those days?
But my main interest was in the strength and beauty of those big workhorses rather than the actual road being built. I loved to watch those beautiful, strong horses moving great loads of dirt. It was amazing how they could work hour after hour through the entire day, moving such heavy loads.
The Bible tells us of people who are more interested in the value and beauty of what they have and see than in what is really important-their eternal salvation. Romans 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23) says, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” This includes everyone and makes having our sins washed away far more important than the enjoyment of what we have or what we do.
We had to wait a long time for the highway to be completed, but you do not have to wait to settle the important matter of taking the Lord Jesus as your Saviour. Boys and girls, the way is open right now for you to come to the Lord Jesus to receive salvation, the full forgiveness for all your sins. On the cross the Lord Jesus said, “It is finished.” This means that He did EVERYTHING God required to get rid of your sins. He bore in His own body the sins of everyone who would accept Him as Saviour. He now says, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)). He also says, “Him that [comes] to Me I will in no [way] 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)).
ML-10/08/1995