Mr. and Mrs. Wilson lived on a small farm just outside the city limits. They had three children: Becky was eight, Randy was six and Wally was just three.
One day in the summer Mrs. Wilson was in the kitchen washing dishes. Randy and Wally came bursting in the door each carrying a brand-new water gun. They had been told they couldn’t use them inside the house, so they had been busy squirting water on things in the backyard.
“Mommy, can we water your flowers with our water guns?” asked Randy.
Mrs. Wilson told them she thought that was a good idea; her flowers could always use a drink.
So she filled their little bucket with water again, and back outside they ran, happy their water guns had a job to do.
It was lots of fun at first, but soon they got tired of watering flowers. So they looked around to see what else they could water.
“I know; let’s wash the tires on Daddy’s tractor,” suggested Randy.
“Okay,” said Wally, delighted with the new idea. So they filled up their water guns from the bucket again and ran off for this new fun.
Little boys aren’t the only ones always looking for some new pleasure to keep them happy. The pleasures this world has to offer just don’t satisfy anyone for very long. So many spend their time and money searching for some new and exciting pleasure that will last, only to be disappointed again. But the Bible has the answer for those who are searching for happiness. “O satisfy us early with Thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.” Psalms 90:1414O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. (Psalm 90:14). The Lord Jesus is the only source of true happiness.
It wasn’t long before Randy and Wally got tired of washing tractor tires, too. Randy had a new idea.
“Wally, let’s climb up and look at Daddy’s tractor.”
Randy had to help Wally climb up since a three-year-old doesn’t have very long legs. Soon the two brothers were both sitting in the big tractor seat.
“I know how Daddy cranks this tractor,” Randy said proudly. “How?” asked Wally.
“Well, he pushes in that starter,” explained Randy, pointing to the starter button.
So Wally put his little foot up on the starter button and pushed it.
Now, the tractor was old and was almost impossible for even their father to start. But when Wally’s little foot pushed the starter button, that tractor started up the first time! Since it had been left in high gear, the tractor lurched forward and took off.
Randy quickly jumped off the tractor, but Wally just stood there, hanging on to the steering wheel, too scared to know what to do.
In the house, Mrs. Wilson heard an engine running that sounded to her like the big, old tractor. She ran outside to see. What she saw terrified her! Coming up the hill towards her was the big, old tractor with little Wally standing up on it, gripping the steering wheel.
Mrs. Wilson couldn’t do anything to stop the tractor. So she turned to the only One who could help her little boy — she cried to the Lord Jesus to save little Wally!
About then the tractor crossed a little ditch which made it whirl around and take off at full speed in the opposite direction. Not far ahead were two big oak trees, and beyond them was a big, deep ditch.
By now Mrs. Wilson was frantically running along behind the tractor, praying as she ran, hoping somehow to try to snatch little Wally off the tractor. He was still standing gripping the steering wheel in terror, too frightened even to cry.
As the tractor ran by one of the oak trees, the inside of one of its big tires caught the tree and this made the tractor jump up the tree trunk, lurching higher and higher up the trunk.
Mrs. Wilson, close behind the tractor, was terrified that it was going to flip over backwards on top of little Wally and herself. She cried to the Lord Jesus to save both of them!
“Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” Isaiah 65:2424And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. (Isaiah 65:24). The Lord Jesus answered Mrs. Wilson’s cry. The tractor stopped.
Mrs. Wilson quickly gathered poor, frightened little Wally into her arms. She was so weak with relief that she sat down on the ground. With tears streaming down her face she thanked the Lord Jesus for saving her little boy. Wally hadn’t gotten even a scratch.
It has been 18 years since little Wally’s terrifying tractor ride. Both Randy and Wally are grown men now. But the two old oak trees are still standing. One still has the marks nine feet high where the runaway tractor climbed its trunk... and stopped.
Mrs. Wilson will never forget that day and her answer to prayer. Those of us who have accepted the Lord Jesus as our Saviour know we can cry to Him in any difficulty, and He will hear us. “Call unto Me, and I will answer thee.” Jeremiah 33:33Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. (Jeremiah 33:3).
Is the Lord Jesus Christ your Saviour? He loves you and longs to forgive your sins, if you will only come to Him. The freedom of knowing your sins are gone forever gives true happiness. “Whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.” Proverbs 16:2020He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he. (Proverbs 16:20).
ML-03/01/1987