Hide and Seek

As Trisha hid her face and began counting, the children scattered to find a hiding place.  Benny darted under the berry bush, but it was prickly.  He ran behind the rose trellis, but is was too near home base.  Where could he hide? It didn't matter, he thought.  He could beat Trisha and be home "Free" from any spot in the yard.  Just as he was ready to duck behind the woodpile, Trisha called, "Forty-nine, fifty!  Ready or not, here I come!"

Trisha spun around just in time to see Benny disappear behind the woodpile.  "One, two, three for Benny!" she called as she slapped the base!  "Benny's the next 'It'," she cried.

Quickly the other children burst from their hiding places.  Some got caught, and some were "Free," but Benny was angry.  He got caught, and he didn't want to get caught!

"You cheated, Trisha Malone!"

"I did not!" Trisha retorted.  "You know I counted to fifty!  You just wanted to take your own sweet time!" she laughed.  "Hey!  You had plenty of warning!  You knew I was counting and time was passing; and you heard me holler, "Ready or not, here I come!"

"Yes, but I wanted more time!" Benny insisted.

"Well, don't get so upset.  It's only a game!  C'mon."

But Benny was miffed and plopped down by the lilac bush to pout.

Poor Benny!  He wanted to play as long as the game went his way.  He had as much time and warning as others, but he delayed.  In a much more serious way, the Lord Jesus Christ calls us to Himself.  He is the only hiding place from God's judgment.  He warns us of His sudden return.  "Surely I come quickly" (Rev. 22:20).  God urges us "to flee from the wrath to come" (Luke 3:7).  "Christ died for our sins"  (I Cor. 15:3).  As sinners, we must repent and turn from our sins to Jesus Christ and receive Him by faith.  There is no room for our ideas or false hiding places.  We cannot just join a church, be baptized, help others, give money, or do anything else that seems to be good enough to escape God's judgment in Hell.  God's way is perfect.  Jesus said, "I am the way...no man cometh unto the Father but by me" (John 14:6).
Don't play "Hide and Seek" with God.  You cannot win!  He is already seeking you.  "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which is lost" (Luke 19:10).  You cannot hide from God.  "The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good" (Prov. 15:3).  So come out of your hiding place, whatever you are trusting in for salvation.  Receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your only Savior, but do it soon!  There is no guarantee of more time or warning.  "Behold, now is the day of salvation" (II Cor. 6:2).  Be ready when He calls!
 

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