In the Mediterranean Sea off the east coast of Spain is an island called Mallorca. It is the largest of a group of islands owned by Spain and has an interesting history, as well as a delightful climate and beautiful scenery.
One of the many interesting things about the island is a series of stone towers that look like smoke stacks all along the shoreline. They are close enough together that each tower can be seen by the next one in line. In this way, every bend of the shoreline can be watched from one of the towers.
These tall structures were built hundreds of years ago when pirates sailed the Mediterranean, looking for easy victims. Before the towers were built, the pirates would come ashore, often killing, robbing and kidnapping whenever they caught the islanders off guard.
Along with the towers, the people built a city on the north side of the island with a wall around it. This was called the “city of refuge.” This provided a safe place for the islanders to escape from the pirates.
When an unfriendly ship came into sight, its course was closely watched from tower to tower, using lanterns. If it came in to shore, an alarm was sounded. Everyone who heard the alarm ran for safety with their loved ones and all they could carry to the “city of refuge” with the wall around it.
Boys and girls, Satan, just like those pirates, is looking for easy victims. But God has sent His watchmen, gospel preachers, to warn you to escape to a place of safety. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous [wise] runneth into it, and is safe” (Proverbs 18:1010The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. (Proverbs 18:10)). The alarm has been sounded! Have you escaped to the only safe place? Are you safe in Christ?
Those who waited too long to run to the city of safety on Mallorca were killed or carried away captive, never to be heard from again. And those who wait too long to run to the Lord Jesus for safety will be lost forever. The Bible says, “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)), and, “There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:1212Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)).
Won’t you run to the safety of Jesus’ arms right now?
ML-02/27/2011