A magnificent panorama has opened up before... - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere.
Genesis 19:17

A magnificent panorama has opened up before the artist's eyes: bizarre formations of rocks tower up tower like silent witnesses of the constant attacks from the surge of the waves. After the artist has contemplated the scenery for a while, he looks for the best location to paint. He chooses one of the rocks, from which to produce a beautiful picture of the scene. He is soon at work, engrossed in his activity.

He does not notice, however, that the tide is rising slowly. Some smaller rocks are already under water. Twice he has been splashed by a high wave, but he is too absorbed in his work to notice.

Suddenly he hears a man on the cliff shouting; he is gesticulating wildly. The artist looks around and becomes conscious of the dangerous situation he is in. The rock on which he is sitting is already surrounded by water. He snatches all his equipment, jumps down and hurries through the rising water to the safety of firm land. When he reached his rescuer, he learned that that dangerous spot was called "the gate to hell". Several careless persons had already been overtaken by the tide there and drawn to their death.

Isn't it the case with so many people that, with their daily duties and occupation, they do not notice that they, too, are at the gate of hell, so to speak? They are sometimes aroused by illness or some other critical situation. That is God's way of speaking to us. He wishes to warn us that we are in peril of being lost eternally, if we fail to receive the Saviour Jesus Christ into our hearts.

Today's reading: Judges 9:1-25 · 2 Corinthians 8:16-24