THE CHILDREN'S WARNINGS

Children who have been to Cornwall will probably have heard of the dreaded Manacle Rocks near Dartmouth. A floating bell-buoy gives a continual warning of the danger to shipping of these cruel fangs just under the surface of the sea. Some years ago a liner outward bound for America struck these rocks at speed, shivered, slipped back into deeper water and sank with great loss of life. No notice had been taken of the bell because no one suspected danger, although the vessel was actually seven miles off her course. None of the ship's watch survived and no one knows the reason for the error. Let every reader young or old of this brief record be warned that, if unsaved, there are the rocks of judgment and eternal loss ahead even if they are not now seen. Believe on the Lord Jesus and the bells of warning will become the bells of joy.

The book of Ecclesiastes is also known as The Preacher because Solomon, the writer, gave himself that title seven times in it. It was written about one thousand years before the birth of Jesus, so that the good tidings preached therein is not the glorious gospel that we have, it is in the form of warnings and restraints. The first part of chapter twelve, especially, warns you to remember your Creator in the days of your youth. It would be a challenge to see if you can understand what is meant by each reference there to the human senses and powers in old age. Amongst these references, "the almond tree" seems to refer to grey hair, "the grinders" are the teeth and "the keepers of the house" are probably the nerves - and so on.

In God's care for His creatures and especially of those who believe, He has sometimes given warnings by angels and even by dreams so that His people should be saved from danger or guided. Amongst the great men of ancient time, Noah was warned 'by word of mouth' of the impending judgment of the world by flood. He acted upon the warning and built his great ship as a place of safety that would bear up all life within it upon the very waters of judgment. The risen Lord Jesus is salvation from sin and sins for all who believe in Him. Protective salvation now is in His assembly.

Do you enjoy present salvation?

J.C.Evershed