Henry and Jane were visiting a national park. As they entered they noticed large signs which read:
STAY IN YOUR CAR.
KEEP WINDOWS
CLOSED WHEN PARKED.
DO NOT FEED ANIMALS.
A park employee at the entrance also warned them of these rules. They spent several days in the beautiful park and enjoyed being able to see so many animals in their natural setting.
One day was so hot and they were driving slowly along with their windows open, enjoying the beautiful park scenery. They came to an area where several cars were parked along the road. They decided there must be something there worth watching.
They pulled over and parked their car, then began looking around. They quickly saw what everyone was watching. Near the road were six beautiful elk feeding in a meadow. Not wanting to frighten the animals by getting out of the car, they took some pictures from the open car window and sat watching those beautiful animals for some time.
Jane turned away from looking out of Henry’s window with him, and to her great surprise there stood a black bear looking at her through her open window! She could feel his hot breath on her neck. Jane screamed and leaned over against her husband. He quickly opened his door, and both of them scrambled out his side. Then he quickly slammed his door shut behind them.
That bear climbed right into the car through Jane’s open window and began tearing up the front seat, then sniffing the air, it climbed over to the back seat. The bear must have smelled their lunch in the trunk, because it began to claw and tear at the back seat. Those long, sharp claws soon found their way right through the seat and into the trunk!
Seeing what was happening, people in a nearby car hurried off to find a park ranger. Henry and Jane could do nothing but stand back and watch that bear, now sitting in their ruined car, contentedly eating their lunch!
Soon the ranger came and managed to get the bear out of the car. But the inside of the car was left a mess. The upholstery was in shreds, stuffing from the seats was scattered all over, and loosened springs stuck out of the seat. All of their belongings were tangled and torn.
Remembering too late the warning to “KEEP WINDOWS CLOSED WHEN PARKED,” they sadly got back into the car and found a place to sit on the torn-up front seat. They decided they had better just go on home and drove on out of the park. What a sad ending to a happy vacation!
How much better it is to obey not only the authority of people God has seen fit to place over us, but to obey our heavenly Father! “How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; and have not obeyed the voice of my teachers” (Proverbs 5:12-1312And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; 13And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me! (Proverbs 5:12‑13)).
Have you heard the gospel message and obeyed it? Have you heard that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15))? Are you truly sorry about your sins, and have you accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your very own Saviour? He died to save you from everlasting death and punishment if you will trust Him.
It would have been best for Henry and Jane to have obeyed the instruction and warning given to them when they entered the national park. They had been told to keep the car windows rolled up. And it will be best for you if you obey God’s instructions, receiving the protection of His eternal love and everlasting life in heaven.
ML-11/16/1997