Amy tiptoed down the hall early in the morning and peeked into Grandpa’s bedroom. Seeing that Grandpa’s eyes were open, she climbed up on the end of his bed and said, “Grandpa, please take me fishing today.”
Every summer when Grandpa came to visit, Amy looked forward to going fishing with him. Grandpa loved to fish, and since Amy’s home was right near a river, they often went out together to catch fish for supper.
“Let’s try a new fishing spot today,” Grandpa suggested. “Why don’t we try fishing from the railroad bridge. That looks to me like it might be a good place.”
The morning train had already gone by, and no other train was scheduled until late at night, so they put their fishing rods over their shoulders and climbed the hill to the railroad tracks. Walking along the tracks they soon came to the railroad bridge. They walked out to the middle, baited their hooks and began to fish. Grandpa caught a nice, big sunfish while Amy waited patiently for something to nibble at her bait.
They were enjoying their peaceful, quiet spot, when suddenly they heard a sound that made them stare at one another in fear. A train was whistling for the railroad crossing less than a mile away. An unexpected freight train was approaching the bridge!
Grandpa didn’t know what to do. The railroad bridge was a long one, and he realized that if they tried to run back to get off the bridge, the train would probably hit and kill them before they got to the end. By now they could see the train thundering toward them.
Catching sight of them, the engineer knew instantly that he could not stop in time. In helpless frustration he pulled the train whistle again and again as the heavy freight train rushed on toward Grandpa and Amy.
Grandpa shouted at Amy, but the noise of the whistle combined with the roar of the train made it impossible for her to hear. Putting his mouth right down to her ear he yelled, “Drop your rod.” Then picking Amy up in his arms, he stepped off the tracks out onto the railroad ties which extended over the river.
Setting Amy down on the end of one of the ties, he put her small hands on the bridge railing. Pressing close behind her, he put his arms around her, placed his hands on her hands and held on tightly.
The bridge shook as the train roared by three feet behind them. The noise was deafening, but Amy was completely safe in the shelter of Grandpa’s strong arms.
After the danger had passed and the noise had faded away, Amy held Grandpa’s hand as they walked back home.
“You know what, Grandpa?” Amy said. “I was really scared when I saw that train coming, but when you put your arms around me and held me tight, then I felt safe. Thank you for holding on to me.”
Are you safe in the strong arms of the Lord Jesus Christ, boys and girls? If you have accepted the Lord Jesus as your very own Saviour and know that your sins are gone, then you are held safely and are secure forever. Satan may try to bother you and may trouble you and try to frighten you, but the Lord Jesus promises: “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand” (John 10:2829).
Amy’s ears hurt from the noise of the train, and the bridge shook under her feet, but she was safe and happy with Grandpa’s arms around her. And all of Satan’s attempts to bother and disturb you will never make you frightened or unhappy as long as you remember that the Lord Jesus is holding you tightly and will never let you go. “For He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear” (Hebrews 13:56).
“The eternal God is thy refuge, and
underneath are the everlasting arms.”
Deuteronomy 33:27
ML-06/07/1996