Playing Big Bear

My eldest son taught me a lesson along this Line when he was just a little fellow. There was nothing he liked to play more than bear. First, we had to put some chairs in one corner of the room, with an opening between them. That was the bear’s den. Then I had to get down on all fours, with a big shaggy overcoat over me and be the bear. The little fellow would walk past the den, trying to look as if he had no idea that a bear was anywhere near, when suddenly the savage beast would take after him, and we would run through one room and into another. The little fellow was pretty fleet on his feet, but, of course, he would always be caught at last.
The last time we ever played bear, he had run right into the corner of the kitchen, but the corner didn’t open. He had his face right in the corner, and was so excited, that he just screamed. Suddenly, you know, the bear was about to spring, when the little fellow wheeled right about face, caught his breath, and said, “I am not a bit afraid. You are not a bear; you are just my own dear papa,” and he jumped right into my arms.
I got to my feet, held the little fellow close to me, and tried to quiet him. I said to myself as I walked up and down with him, “Blessed God, it was just like this with me once. I was running away from Thee. I was afraid of Thee. I thought you wanted to destroy me. I tried to find a hiding place from Thee, but Thou didst never give me up.”
I remembered the time years before when God ran me into a corner, and I couldn’t get away; and instead of trying to run, I turned to Him in repentance, in confession, and said, “I am not afraid of Thee. Thou art not my enemy. I throw myself into Thy loving arms. Thou art my refuge. In Thy tender care and loving mercy, I find a hiding place.”
“Rock of Ages, deft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save me from its guilt and power.
“Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow.
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.”

Have you come to Him like that? Have you realized something of your own helplessness? Have you realized your own sinfulness, the utter hopelessness of your ever making atonement for your own guilt? Have you turned to Him as David, and said, “I will confess my transgressions ‘unto the Lord.” Then you have a right to add, “Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.” He says, “For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found.”