Steven’s screams echoed through the house. His mother, who had been talking on the telephone, dropped it and ran into the hall. The cries were coming from the clothes chute in the closet! Two-year-old Steven was always getting into everything. This time he had gotten into something that would not let him out!
Steven had discovered the clothes chute while his mother was talking on the telephone. The chute was on the second floor of the two-story house. Soiled clothing was dropped into the chute which extended down to a bin in the laundry room. He had opened the lid covering the chute, then he climbed in feet first and sat on the ledge. He thought it was lots of fun to kick his feet against the metal sides of the chute. He liked the clang, clang, clang as it shook the inside of the chute.
In his play Steven slipped off the ledge and slid down into the chute. As he struggled to climb up, he just slipped down a little more. It was no longer fun! He was trapped! That’s when he started to scream.
Steven was being just like people today who play with sin. It’s fun for a time and they enjoy it. But sooner or later it traps them, and the more they struggle the worse it gets. Once they realize they can’t escape by themselves—that the help of someone else is needed, they look for someone to save them. It is then that the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, can save them. Jesus suffered for our sins on Calvary’s cross. He died for us so that we might have our sins washed away. Then He rose from the dead and is now waiting for those who will put their trust in Him. Won’t you trust Him now? “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31).
When Steven’s mother found him she tried to pull him out. The more she tugged, the more he struggled and the more tightly wedged in he became. She finally gave up, ran to the telephone and called her husband who worked nearby.
“Hurry home!” she said. “Steven is stuck in the clothes chute!”
“He’s stuck where?” he asked. “In the clothes chute and I can’t get him out! Please hurry!”
Steven’s mother ran back to the clothes chute. Steven was really screaming now! As she worked to free him, the chute pulled away from the back of the closet. When her husband arrived they worked together to get the chute out of the closet. Then by working from both ends, pushing and pulling, they finally freed Steven.
There are many who are still trying to save themselves, but have found that they have no strength. God’s Word, the Bible, speaks of One who can “Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.” Job 33:2424Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. (Job 33:24). By dying for us on the cross He has provided the ransom to save us. Won’t you accept His offer of mercy to you now and be saved? "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).
ML-09/28/1980