There were games and races for the children, but the biggest event at the picnic was the game called “tug-of-war.” A long rope was stretched across the grass, and a pocket handkerchief was tied in the very center of the rope. Then a line was chalked on the grass, and the handkerchief was placed exactly over the chalk line. After everyone was divided into two teams, each team grabbed one end of the rope. When the whistle blew, both teams began to pull on the rope, with each team trying hard to pull the handkerchief across the chalk line to win. It was a test of strength!
How those boys and girls and teenagers pulled! What energy they put into it! But the handkerchief did not move a single inch. Then some of the tuggers lay down on the ground so they could pull even harder. Every nerve, every muscle seemed to be strained as they pulled with all their strength. But the two sides were so evenly matched that the handkerchief didn’t move either way. It was impossible to tell which team would win.
The onlookers were shouting to the two teams, “PULL! PULL! PULL!” Then the boys and girls on one team gave one mighty tug, and the handkerchief was finally pulled across the chalk line! There was loud cheering for the winners!
After this game, one of the men had a message for all the children. “Today, boys and girls, I want to talk to you about another tug-of-war. The weight to be pulled is a human soul. It is your soul, boys and girls. You are the one who is being pulled in two directions, just like that handkerchief.
“And who are the tuggers? I myself have my hands on the rope, but there are other hands on the same side of the rope besides mine - each Bible lesson you hear, each hymn you sing, each prayer that is said, each danger you escape and each sickness too - each one gives you a pull towards the Lord Jesus who loves you. But so far you have not crossed that line to come to Jesus; you have not crossed the line which divides those who are saved from those who are not saved. Why are you so hard to move?
“Is it because there are other hands on the other side of the rope? Yes, other tuggers are pulling in the opposite direction. Each friend who doesn’t love Jesus, each selfish wish, each sinful thought or act - each one gives you a pull in the wrong direction, away from safety and away from the Lord Jesus. Satan, your enemy, has a great army of soul tuggers. The Bible warns, ‘ Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour’ (1 Peter 5:88Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Peter 5:8)).
“Don’t let Satan win that tug-of-war for your soul. If he wins, your life will end in a terrifying eternity in the lake of fire. Instead, will you let Jesus win your heart and soul? He not only loves you, He died for you and wants you to spend eternity with Him in that safe and happy place called heaven.”
ML-11/13/2005