Most mornings on the farm were rather hectic as the children all were getting ready for school. They hurried to be ready in time to catch the bus that came out into the country to pick up the children.
Jamie discovered that they could see the school bus coming over a distant hill before it made the last few bends in the road. The time it took the bus to get from that hill to the farm allowed them just three minutes to get ready. Jackets were quickly zipped, lunches and books were gathered up, and with a good-bye kiss they dashed out across the road, usually just as the bus was pulling up. This worked pretty well, so Mother decided they should keep someone by the back bedroom window as a watchman. Since Sharon was the oldest of the children not yet going to school, she was elected to be the watchman.
At first she rather liked this idea... and her sharp eyes were keen, watching for that fleeting glimpse of the big yellow bus, signaling their three-minute countdown. She would run full steam out into the kitchen and shout its arrival just like a train conductor — “HERE COMES THE BUS!” This was quite a game, and she was an important part of all the activity, so she liked it.
However, after some time the “new game” wore off, and she found the waiting and watching rather boring. One morning as she was watching, the kitty wandered into the bedroom to find Sharon. Sharon began to play with her. Happy was her favorite pet, and Sharon liked to drag a string around in circles and have Happy chase it. They played with the tie on her housecoat and were having such fun. Suddenly Happy scooted under the bed, and Sharon dived after her. They crawled clear to the other side, and Sharon, forgetting all about her watchman duties, was determined to catch the little scamp.
Just then Sharon’s baby sister Anna toddled into the bedroom, still in her sleeper. She saw Sharon’s toes sticking out from under the bed where she was still trying to catch Happy. Anna pulled herself up to the window, stood on her tiptoes and rested her chin on the windowsill. Just then she saw the distant school bus appear for a moment at the top of the hill before it dipped out of sight again. How much she understood about this situation would be hard to say, but she turned around and toddled off to the kitchen, and there she raised her voice as loud as she could, “HEAH CUM DA BU!” After all this mighty effort she lost her balance and fell down in the middle of the floor.
Everyone stopped in their tracks and looked at her.
“Does she know what she’s talking about?”
“She’s probably trying to copy what she sees Sharon do.”
“Isn’t that cute!”
But they weren’t doing anything about it — none of them believed what the little “watchman” had said! As she sat there with her finger in her mouth, she pointed a chubby little finger in the direction of the bedroom. Jamie glanced at the clock and said, “Hey, look what time it is; we’d better be gettin’ out there!” So everyone hustled into their jackets, snatched up their books and lunches and made a fast exit... just as the bus rounded the corner.
“I wonder what happened to Sharon?” Mother wondered when things grew quiet. She picked up Anna and went to the bedroom. There was Sharon still playing with the kitty, unaware that she had failed as a watchman.
Did you know that God has watchmen? In Isaiah 21:1111The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? (Isaiah 21:11) He asks, “Watchman, what of the night?” The watchman answered, “The morning cometh, and also the night.” For those people who have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour, they are still in the darkness (night) of their sins. Those sins will take them into the everlasting darkness and punishment of hell. But for those who have accepted Christ as their own Saviour, the “morning” that the watchman saw tells of the soon coming of our Saviour. Then all who accepted Him as their Saviour will be immediately brought into His presence in heaven.
We should be faithful watchmen to warn others that the Saviour will be coming soon and the time to get ready is right now. “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). The warning call has been given: “Behold, the bridegroom [the Lord Jesus Christ] cometh.” Matthew 25:66And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. (Matthew 25:6). Prepare to meet Him. Accept Him as your Saviour today. If you are not saved when He comes, you will not have another opportunity.
ML-03/24/1985