Boys and girls usually think it would be great fun to ride horses and herd cattle, but there were three young brothers who found it wasn't such fun to take care of cows out in the Idaho desert day after day all summer long. Their names were Sam, Randy and Herb. Every morning they drove their father's cattle down the road, and at several neighboring places more cattle were added to the herd, which they headed out into the desert to hunt for food. In the evening they were driven back home again. Sometimes the neighbor boy John went along, too.
A hot wind was usually blowing out on the desert, and before long the water in their canteen would get warm. The business of keeping the cattle from straying was not very difficult and did not occupy their entire attention. One morning they let the horses they had ridden out on graze while they played around some dirt banks. They had an idea. Why not make themselves a shelter, a real cave, that would be big enough for them all to get inside? It seemed like a great idea. And John had come along that day too, making four of them! They started at once using anything they could find to dig with.
They almost forgot about the cattle, only giving them a look now and then. With an old can for a scoop and a bucket to carry away the loose dirt, they soon had a good sized hole in the bank. The dirt was loose and sandy and easy to dig out and it was not long before the cave was deep enough for Sam to squeeze inside. He shoved the loosened dirt forward for the others to carry away. After much more digging, Herb could get inside too. They were so excited over their cave they hardly noticed the hours slipping away.
Sam, Randy and Herb were boys who had Christian parents. Early in life they had been taught the Holy Scriptures which were able to make them "wise unto salvation" (2 Tim. 3:1515And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:15)) but like many young boys, they were careless about speaking to their companions, to warn them of an eternity ahead—and that everyone must have to do with God about their sins.
But let us not stop there. We have been "born again" (John 3:33Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)) into the family of God, and are left here to "shine as lights in the world" (Phil. 2:1515That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; (Philippians 2:15)).
The cave was now large enough for Sam, Herb and John to work in, while Randy stood outside the entrance. Sam scooped up a last bucketful of sand and handed it out for Randy to empty. Without warning, without time for thought of escape... heavy sand and sudden darkness closed in upon them. They were trapped! A sudden thought of concern flashed through Sam's mind, and he called, "John, are you saved?" There was no answer, no time to speak of salvation. Total darkness closed in upon the three young boys buried in the sand out in the desert.
Outside the cave stood Randy, the bucket still in his hand.
He stared at the spot where the hole had been a minute before. It wasn't there now. There was no place to hand the bucket back in to the boys. What were they doing? Hiding from him, probably.
He called their names but no answer came back. Young as he was, he knew it was time to be getting the cattle home and the boys wouldn't even help him. He began to cry. Somehow he felt frightened when he looked at the sand bank, as peaceful as if it had never been touched. Well, it was no use standing there. He pulled himself up on Beauty, his horse, and rounded up the cattle all by himself. With many a backward look for some sign of the boys, he started the herd toward the little town.
The first house he passed was Mr. Westfalls place. Mrs. Westfall saw Randy crying and went out to see what the trouble was. Though his story didn't seem to fit together, she sensed something was wrong and called her husband. Without losing time for more words, Mr. Westfall roughly pulled Randy off the horse, mounted and rode hard for the scene of the trouble.
In a little house further down the road, where a row of tall poplar trees lined the driveway, dinner was almost ready. Mother glanced out the kitchen window every few minutes for signs of the hungry boys who would be driving home the cattle. She lifted the lid on the steaming kettle of beans which she had prepared. "I wonder what's keeping them so long?”
A car drove in. It was Mrs. Westfall. Then they knew. With shovels and blankets, they rushed to the rescue—every heart prayerful. The word had spread quickly, and quite a crowd had gathered. Men were digging desperately with shovels and the women sought to comfort the mothers of the boys.
The lifeless body of little Herb was removed first. His brown curly hair was matted with sand, but the little face was peaceful. Knowing that his spirit had gone to be with His Saviour comforted and calmed his dear parents and helped them in their sorrow. John's mother was quite upset by the time her son's limp body was uncovered. Anxiously they examined him for some signs of life. The town druggist felt his pulse. He bent over and listened to his heart. A faint throb—then another. Yes, there was still life. There was hope. There was mercy yet extended. They worked hard to revive the unconscious boy, and what tears of relief were shed when at last his eyes opened and they knew he was going to live.
By this time Sam was rescued, and though his nose and mouth were filled with dirt, he was still alive. Sam grew up to raise a family of his own, and to teach them of the love of God and the way of salvation. But little Herb was in heaven with the Lord Jesus, safe for all eternity because he had put his trust in the Lord Jesus and knew Him as his own Saviour. If Herb had not already been saved, there would have been no time for him to change his mind. Are you ready? "BEHOLD, NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME; BEHOLD, NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION." 2 Cor. 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). "BOAST NOT THYSELF OF TOMORROW; FOR THOU KNOWEST NOT WHAT A DAY MAY BRING FORTH." Prov. 27:11Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. (Proverbs 27:1).
YE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE MEN, THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS, AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.