I was working in the kitchen one summer evening while my husband David was working at his desk in the living room. Our 11/2-year-old son Brian was playing and dividing his time between both of us.
Suddenly I became aware that Brian seemed rather quiet. I looked around for him where he had been sitting on the floor playing with his toys in the hallway, but he was not there. “David, is Brian in there with you?” I called.
“No, I thought he was with you,” came his reply.
I called Brian, but there was no answer. I called again much louder, and this time he answered, but he sounded so strange. My first thought was that perhaps he was playing hide-and-seek, but my instincts told me that something was wrong. I was becoming concerned.
A 11/2-year-old little boy or girl cannot get along without his parents for very long. If he becomes separated from them, he is lost and needs to be found quickly.
A seven or eight-year-old child or a 20-25-year-old person can be lost, too, but I don’t mean from their parents. In the Bible the Lord Jesus Christ, speaking of Himself as the Son of man, said, “The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:1010For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10). Who was He seeking; who was lost? It also says in 2 Corinthians 4:33But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: (2 Corinthians 4:3), “If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost.” The lost are people who have not accepted the gospel. It is “hid” from them because they have refused to believe it.
Brian was lost and that was serious. Yet when his mother called him he answered. By answering, she could follow his voice and find him.
The Lord Jesus is calling you. Have you heard His voice? He says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock.” Revelation 3:2020Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20). This is the gentle knocking of the Lord Jesus at your heart’s door. He wants your attention. He is calling you. Won’t you answer?
I walked into the hall where Brian had been playing. Beside his toys, the large grate covering the cold-air return to the furnace was pushed off to the side. Anxiously, I kneeled down beside the hole and called Brian’s name again. This time his answer came clearly, and it was coming up from the cold-air return!
“David,” I shrieked, “Brian’s fallen down into the furnace!” We both hurried down the basement steps as fast as we could. Terrifying thoughts were running through my head. A drop that far could mean broken bones... or worse.
Down in the basement by the furnace I called Brian once more and heard him answer, “Mommy!” from inside. David quickly pulled the handle to lift the panel off the side of the furnace.
There was Brian, sitting on top of the blower motor. Under him were two furnace filters which had been ripped out of place on his way down. He was sitting there with a look of wonder on his little face, but as soon as he saw us a big smile covered his dirty little face.
Have you seen that you are a helpless sinner and turned to the only One who can save you — the Lord Jesus? On the cross He was punished for the sins of all who would accept Him as their Saviour.
Brian was completely helpless inside the furnace, except for calling, “Mommy!” As a sinner you are helpless, too, but you can call to the Lord Jesus. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:1313For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13). He loves you and is patiently waiting for you simply to trust in Him as your Saviour. Won’t you do that right now?
David carefully lifted Brian off the motor. He was so dusty and dirty that it was hard to tell the color of his clothes. We checked him from head to toe, and found nothing wrong — no broken bones or even scratches, just lots of dirt. He certainly needed a bath.
How easy it would be if we could simply take a bath and have our sins washed away. But God says, “For though thou wash thee... and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity [sin] is marked before Me.” Jeremiah 2:2222For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord God. (Jeremiah 2:22). There is only one way we can be saved from our sins, and that plan of salvation was completed by the Lord Jesus Christ. Don’t wait any longer — time is short! Why not accept the Lord Jesus as your Saviour right now? You might not have the opportunity tomorrow. “Now is the accepted time; behold, 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-04/16/1989