Echoes of Grace: 2018

t was a real bright spot in a war-torn area where a fierce war had been raging for far too long. As is the case in these situations, many men, women and children suffer terrible deprivation, and many lost their lives to the bullets of the enemy.

Our story takes place in Mosul, Iraq, where the fighting had been unrelenting for several months. Dave Eubank, a 56-year-old aid worker, who had once been a Special Forces soldier, was working near the front lines of the battle. He noticed movement among several of the dead bodies lining a wall. It was a little 6-year-old girl! He decided to risk his life in an attempt to save the little girl’s life.

Counting the Cost

With some careful planning, the attempt was made. The U. S. military dropped smoke to cover their actions, and the Iraqis provided a tank for them to run behind. With two of his colleagues providing cover for him, Eubank, wearing only a helmet and a bullet-proof vest, ran out among the gunshots and snatched the little girl from among the dead. Then he ran back to his friends and safety.

He had done it! Not only did they rescue the little girl, but they also went back and rescued two men. He had counted the cost and knew the risk that he was taking. He later told a reporter that “I really thought that I was going to die at that moment.” But he had put his trust in God, and he gave Him the credit for helping him. God promises in His Word, the Bible, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me” (Psalm 50:15).

A Costlier Rescue

Did you know that God considers us as being “dead in trespasses and sins”? That is our state and condition before a sin-hating God. We, too, are just as helpless as that little girl was to save herself. Not only was she helpless, but also she had been lying underneath her mother’s dead body for two days, surrounded by the dead bodies of her family. She definitely needed rescuing! And so do we if we do not know the Lord Jesus as our Savior. We are in the very same condition as that little girl: helpless, in our sins, and in need of a Savior.

Just as there was someone willing to rescue that little girl, there is hope and salvation for us. “When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. ... But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8). When we realize our lost, helpless condition before a holy and just God, we can call upon Him, and He will deliver us from the wrath of God because of our sins. This does not mean that we will never sin again, but that we have put our trust in God’s Son, who shed His blood and died on Calvary’s cross for us. Then we can confidently say that we are “now justified [made right with God] by His blood” and that “we shall be saved from wrath through Him” (Romans 5:9).

Recognizing Real Risks

Dave Eubank knew the risk — he knew that there was a great chance that he could have been killed. After all, these ISIS fighters were experienced and were experts at what they were doing. Their snipers had ruthlessly shot down children and any other civilians that had tried to flee. He also had a loving wife and three children to think of. He had seen many of his Iraqi military friends die in the last month — two senior commanders had died right next to him. When asked why he did it, he said that he thought of the verse, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

But we were not friends to God. We were in rebellion against Him, content to live in our sins, totally apart from God. There was nothing we could do to save ourselves from an eternity separated from God. But God made known His great love towards us in that His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, left those courts of glory above to come and die and shed His blood for us on Calvary’s cross. “If, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:10). When we accept God’s gift of salvation by putting our trust in the finished work on the cross, we are “reconciled” (made right with God) and are “saved” (have eternal life with God). Won’t you accept God’s free gift of salvation?

The little six-year-old girl needed a rescuer from flying bullets in a war zone. But other dangers lie closer to home. Hiding from hurtling trains can be a tricky business. Find out how tricky it can be in Surviving in a Subway Station.

Surviving in a Subway Station

hat would you do if you were pushed or fell onto the subway tracks?

In 2013, in one month, five people fell onto the subway tracks in New York City, costing four of them their lives. One person was pushed by a deranged, homeless man. Though he begged and pled for help in getting back onto the platform, no one could or would help him. Another man was pushed onto the tracks by a woman off her medication. A young woman in her early 20s who was drunk fell onto the tracks, and on the same day two men from Harlem fell onto the tracks — one survived and one didn’t. The Bible tells us God has numbered our days. None of these people knew it was their last day to live, and we don’t know how much time we have either, so we need to be prepared.

Proper Preparation

Knowledge of a few simple survival techniques would have saved their lives. If you should have the misfortune to fall onto the tracks or need to help someone who has fallen onto the tracks, there are four things that you can do to save yourself.

If you have time, run to either end of the platform where you will find four steps leading back up to the platform. It might be a staircase or a ladder, and even though you can’t see them from the platform because they extend back into the tunnel, every platform has them. If you have a minute or two, this is the safest way to get back onto the platform.

Your next best way of escape is to stand between the pillars on the other side of the tracks. There should be a space large enough between them for you to fit into and hold on. However, beware of the third rail! The farthest rail away from the platform is called the third rail, and it is electrified. Do not touch it, or you will be electrocuted! Step onto the wooden rail above it (or better yet, step OVER it) and move between the pillars.

The third way to avoid being run over by the train is similar to the second way. Some stations do not have pillars — instead, they have indentations in the wall for workers to crouch into when a train is coming. This is where you should go if you don’t have time to run to either end of the platform. One thing you should be aware of — some of these indentations say “NO CLEARANCE,” which means that if you stand there, you might get hit by the train anyway.

The fourth way of escape is the most dangerous and should only be used as a last resort. Only do this if the train is bearing down on you and you only have a few seconds to react. In between the two tracks there is a space — lay down and flatten yourself as much as you can. Don’t move! There are about 9 inches, give or take, for the train to go over you. However, this is very dangerous, as the train’s undercarriage has moving parts, some of which hang down. Only do this as a last chance to survive.

Some stations have a drainage trench which will give you more room. This is how Wesley Autrey saved another man’s life. He noticed 20-year-old Cameron Hollopeter having a seizure and then falling backwards onto the tracks. Just then, the headlights of the No. 1 train appeared. Wesley Autrey made the split second decision to jump down onto the tracks and push Mr. Hollopeter into the drainage ditch and then lay down on top of him, thus saving both of their lives. Other than a few bumps and bruises, they emerged unscathed.

Saved From Destruction

Because Mr. Autrey knew what to do, he was able to save himself and a helpless stranger. Before a righteous God, we are all helpless, lost sinners, unable to save ourselves. There is a danger far greater than falling onto the train tracks hanging over each one of us. It is the wrath of God towards a sin-saturated world that is at enmity against Him. But God sent His Son to die and shed His blood on Calvary’s cross and provide a way to escape the penalty for our sin. “When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6). Because God loves us, He offers a sure way of escape for all men! “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified [made right with God] by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him [Jesus]” (Romans 5:8-9).

Each minute, hour or day that we live, God is giving us an opportunity to repent of our sins and turn to Him for salvation. The wrath of God means spending eternity separated from Him forever without a chance of escape, where “there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Luke 13:28). Don’t neglect your soul’s salvation or put it off! God’s Word tells us, “He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18).

Knowing how to escape a subway disaster is handy. Knowing the way to escape the looming penalty for sin is essential. Read more in The Five W’s and Salvation.

The Five W's and Salvation

ho, what, where, when and why are the five W’s, and news reporters are taught to write their news stories based on the answers to these questions. I would also like to use the five W’s to present to you the most important news you will ever hear — the news of a heaven-sent salvation.

WHO?

Who is the main person in this salvation? Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He Himself, being God, in a moment of time became a man, so that from that time forth He would always be God and man in the same person. He was born in a manger, grew up in obscurity, and then at the age of thirty began a public service that would change the face of the world. For three-and-a-half years He went about the countryside of Israel preaching great truths about the kingdom of God and doing miracles such as healing the sick and the blind, multiplying loaves of bread, and even walking on water. At the end of this time He was taken by cruel hands and crucified. He was buried, but three days later He came back to life. He was seen by many over a period of forty days before ascending up to heaven.

WHAT?

What did He come to do? He came to give His life as a ransom and break the hold that sin had over the hearts and minds of men and women. Mark 10:45 reads, “Even the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Because of His death and resurrection, all who believe on Him may have their sins washed away. Do you want to have your sins washed away? Then you need to come by faith to the Lord Jesus Christ.

WHERE?

Where was the Lord Jesus crucified? On a hill on the outskirts of Jerusalem. Since then, the good news of His salvation is to go out to all races and to all nations, to wherever people may be found. “God so loved the world.” Do you live in this world? Of course you do. Then His love extends to you. He wants men and women from all over the globe to believe on Him that He might eventually bring them to heaven where they will share in His glory forever.

WHEN?

When do you need to believe this? You need to believe it right now. Your heart was not made to live apart from God. Without God’s forgiveness in your life, the terrible stain of sin will continue to mar your life. The debt of eternal punishment weighs upon your heart and will sink you into the depths of hell if you should die apart from Christ. Nearly two thousand years ago Christ died on the cross. Through His death He can remove the stain of sin and the debt of everlasting punishment for all those who believe. The time to come to Christ is right now in this life before you enter into eternal judgment.

WHY?

Why did Christ die? He died because we were sinners on the way to a lost eternity in the darkness of hell, and He wanted to make a way so that we could be saved. God showed His heart and gave His Son to die on the cross. He didn’t do it because we deserved it. That’s for sure. He did it out of love and mercy to bring lost sinners back to Himself. Will you come to God in repentance and faith and have your sins forgiven and start for heaven?

Won’t you consider the who, what, where, when and why of salvation and find it in your heart to come to Christ for your salvation? “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).

Jesus Is Mighty to Save

All glory to Jesus be given,
That life and salvation are free;
And all may be washed and forgiven,
And Jesus can save even me.

From darkness and sin and despair,
Out into the light of His love,
He has brought me and made me an heir,
To kingdoms and mansions above.

Oh, the rapturous heights of His love,
The measureless depths of His grace,
My soul all His fullness would prove,
And live in His loving embrace.

In Him all my wants are supplied,
His love makes my heaven below,
And freely His blood is applied,
His blood that makes whiter than snow.

Avalanche!

Thousands of people in the United States, Canada and elsewhere in the world enjoy winter sports. A couple of the most popular are skiing and snowboarding. What could be more exhilarating than flying down the side of a steep mountain at a high rate of speed? If you stay on the ski trails provided by ski resorts, it is generally quite safe, but if you are an outdoorsman and like the thrill of mountain skiing on your own, there is the serious risk of an avalanche to consider.

Serious Warning

Even experienced skiers can be caught in an avalanche. This is because they ignore the warning signs, or, if they do see them, they think that it won’t happen to them. There is also the tendency to rely, if necessary, on avalanche equipment to save them. But that doesn’t always work. Such was the case with six young men who were caught in an avalanche in Colorado. They were in their early to mid 30s, in the prime of life, virile, active and ready for a good day of snowboarding. Only one of them would survive.

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center had issued a serious warning: “If you find the wrong spot, the resulting avalanche will be very large, destructive and dangerous.” There was good reason for this warning, as they knew that the chance for a “deep persistent slab avalanche” was great. This is when a thick, hard-packed layer of snow breaks away from a weaker layer of snowpack underneath it. A powerful avalanche can and will take anything in its path: trees, animals, cars, buildings, and definitely humans.

Avalanches are not mysterious; there are clear warning signs that lead up to an avalanche. Heavy snowfall, sudden changes in weather, high winds and steep slopes can all cause the snow to become unstable. Over 90% of people killed in avalanches trigger those avalanches themselves.

Insufficient Precautions

Parking in the Loveland Ski Area’s parking lot, these six men read the posted warning. They decided to take what they thought were reasonable precautions. They would not snowboard on the slopes facing north, but instead on the northwestern slopes. However, in order to get there, they had to cross a dangerous area first. To minimize risks, they spaced themselves 50 feet apart from each other and started across the open slope. But it wasn’t enough; suddenly, they felt the snow under them give way, and in a few seconds a crack raced uphill to release the deep slab of snow. They had triggered a massive avalanche 800 feet wide and 600 feet long! In a desperate attempt to save themselves, they ran for a stand of trees, but they never made it. They were quickly swept into the Sheep Creek gully and buried alive. One of them was buried in 10 to 12 feet of snow.

Jerome Boulay, the only survivor, found himself buried with just his left forearm sticking out of the snow. He was able to dig the snow away from his face so that he could breathe, but he could not dig himself out, so he called for help. But there was no one to hear him, no one to call 911, and no other person to dig any of them out. It was not until four long hours later that help arrived on the scene and he was rescued.

What a tragedy! And yet it was totally avoidable, said Ethan Greene, the Avalanche Information Center’s director. He went on to say, “Nobody’s immune from getting caught in avalanches. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been doing this, how athletic you are ... everybody can get killed. It’s an equal opportunity hazard.”

These six men knew the seriousness of the danger. They had read the warning posted, and they did not ignore it. They thought they knew the best action to take in order to avoid being swallowed up in a deadly avalanche. Yet they were sincerely wrong, and five of them paid for it with their lives.

Our Serious Warning

We, too, have been given a faithful warning from God of eternal judgment to come, if we do not accept His way of salvation. The warning is: “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). Then God tells us why this is so. “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). God tells us what the end result will be for those who do not come to Him in faith through the Lord Jesus Christ. It is this: “Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15). There is no reversing this decision, no second chance, and no getting out of the lake of fire. God reinforces it with these words: “Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power” (2 Thessalonians 1:9).

Not only does God give us clear warning of our condition before Him, but, in love, He also tells us how we can be made fit for His holy presence. Salvation is God’s equal opportunity gift. But we cannot come our own way, no matter how sincere we may be. Only God’s way will get us safely to heaven. “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). This is because “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). God wants us to see ourselves as He does — as helpless, guilty sinners before Him. That is why the Lord Jesus died and bled on Calvary’s cross — He took our place and became a “ransom for all” (1 Timothy 2:6). But you are free, right now, to accept God’s loving gift of salvation. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Man’s determination and will is exceedingly strong — even in the face of known danger. It can lead to sudden disaster, without warning, as it did in Two Blocked Railroads.

Two Blocked Railroads

he winter of 1910 was unusually harsh along the northwestern coast of the United States and Canada. Storm followed storm, blizzard followed blizzard without letup, through February into March. As a result, both the United States and Canada were to suffer great loss of life due to avalanches. The incidents that occurred in both countries involved blocked railroads. Both disasters offered hard lessons in the sudden and deadly consequences of avalanches. Both instances forced the railroad companies to do what they should have done in the first place: build tunnels through the mountains.

The Great
Northern Railroad

High in the Cascades, the Great Northern Railroad passenger train was making its way from Spokane to Seattle, Washington, along with a mail train going in the same direction. Even before they left Spokane, they were facing a fierce blizzard. But Mr. William Harrington, known as the Snow King, was certain that he and his crews could keep the train on schedule, as they had before. On they went, laboring through 15- to 20-foot snow drifts, until they got stuck just west of Stevens Pass, near the town of Wellington on February 23.

Workers labored in a mighty attempt to clear the tracks, but it was snowing a foot an hour and continued on through the first day that they were stuck. Then two days went by — three and then four as the blizzard raged on. Now the passengers were getting concerned. But Mr. Harrington assured them that the storm must surely abate soon, and, besides, there had never been an avalanche in the spot where they were stopped, even though avalanches thundered down the mountains behind and in front of them. Days five and six went by with no letup in the raging blizzard, at which point many of the workers, who were making the princely sum of 15 cents an hour, gave up and walked off the job.

Now, even Mr. Harrington became concerned, for they faced a new problem: They were running short on coal, which was needed to keep the trains warm and the rotary snow plow running. They decided to keep only the passenger train warm: Everyone would eat and sleep there. Surely, the blizzard’s fury would lessen soon, and they would be able to continue on with their journey.

These people had a sense of impending danger. Several of the men, losing patience with sitting still, made the long, dangerous and difficult trek down the mountainside to the town of Scenic. Though they made it to safety, it was a brutal trip. In their street clothes, they trudged through towering snow drifts and slid down over 2,000 feet of nearly vertical mountainside. It was an impossible trip for the women and children, and many other men decided not to take the risks.

Many people today sense impending doom. This world is becoming increasingly filled with angry speech, violence and anarchy. Morals are at an all-time low, coupled with a hatred and intolerance of the very mention of God and His holy standards told out in His Word, the Bible. Many people feel hopelessly trapped and don’t know what to do or which way to turn. But there is hope, help and salvation available to all! There is no situation too impossible or too hard for God to save us from. “He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him [Jesus]” (Hebrews 7:25). No matter how deeply trapped in sin you are, God says, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear” (Isaiah 59:1). Right now, while there is still time, give your heart to Jesus. Confess that you have sinned against Him, and ask Him to forgive you. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Then there will be no more need to fear an eternity separated from God with our unforgiven sins upon us. When we accept God’s gift of salvation, He promises “that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:15). You can have this assurance for yourself, if only you will.

But on February 26, Mr. Harrington became very alarmed. The ferocious storm had not abated, but had become a fierce downpour of sheets of rain on top of the snow. Then, on February 28, along with howling wind and rain, it became an electrical storm. Shortly after midnight, on March 1, there were terrific claps of thunder and bolts of lightning one after the other splitting the sky. Then it happened: A bolt of lightning struck the top of the mountain and a wall of snow 14 feet high tore away from the top, gathering trees, debris and speed as it hurtled toward the trains filled with sleeping crewmen and passengers. The wave of snow picked up the trains as if they were toys and carried them over a 150-foot ravine into the Tye River gorge. There, the smashed wreckage came to rest, buried under 40 feet of snow. Only 23 people survived the twisted wreckage. A total of 96 people lost their lives, 61 of them railroad workers and 35 passengers. It was America’s deadliest avalanche, and today, over a hundred years later, it still is.

As a result of this tragedy, the railroad built the Cascade Tunnel, which is 7.8 miles long and still in use today.

Canadian Pacific Railway

Just three days later, this same storm system moved northwest into Canada, causing a similar disaster to take place.

Canada’s transcontinental railway connecting British Columbia to the rest of the country was finished in November 1885. But there was a very dangerous stretch on this railway which caused it to be closed shortly after it became operational. This stretch was to prove itself to be the Canadian Pacific Railway’s proverbial “thorn in the flesh.”

The Rogers Pass was the highest point in the Selkirk Mountains, and it was prone to a steady parade of avalanches, especially during February and March. These avalanches would bury the tracks with an average of 35 to 50 feet of snow. On March 4, a snow removal crew left the town of Revelstoke with 63 men on Friday morning to clear yet another slide on Rogers Pass. Their equipment included a 91-ton locomotive with a rotary snowplow which was fed with coal. The men shoveled the snow into the snowplow, which cut a deep trench through the snow. Work was slowed by the rocks, boulders and trees mixed in with the snow. On top of that, it was stormy with high winds and sleet falling, making the snowpack even more dangerous.

At about 11:30 that night when the men had just about cleared the tracks, a mighty avalanche came crashing down Avalanche Mountain, snapping off full-grown pine trees, and carrying rocks and boulders with it. Because of the noise of the storm, the dark night, the roar of the steam locomotive and the rotary snowplow, the men working in the trench never heard it coming. In an instant, they were buried in over 30 feet of snow. In an instant, there was an eerie silence: no more sound of men working, the hiss of the steam engine or the roar of the rotary plow. There was no more light from swinging lanterns, nor the red glare of the fire that fed the plow, nor the great white light of the snowplow. All was dark and silent.

The 91-ton locomotive and snow plow were picked up and tossed (if you can imagine) 50 feet onto a snowshed where they landed upside down. That’s how powerful it was. In an instant, 58 men were swept into eternity. So quickly did the avalanche overtake them that they were found frozen in the exact positions that they were in when the avalanche hit. Many of them were standing upright, as if they were chatting.

Fully Prepared

Would you be prepared if your life were snatched away in an instant? Now is the time to get right with God. It will be too late then. It will be either eternal damnation in hell or eternal life with Jesus. Those who have come to the Lord for forgiveness of their sins and are sheltered under the blood of Christ will be with Him forever. The Bible describes it this way: “In Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). “As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness” (Psalm 17:15). These are beautiful promises that those who own Him as their own personal Lord and Savior have! On the other hand, if you stand before God in your sins, He is faithful to clearly warn us: “Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power” (2 Thessalonians 1:9).

This tragedy was particularly disheartening to the Canadian Pacific Railroad. Realizing that they were fighting a constant, expensive and losing battle with the weather, they made the decision to build a tunnel through Mount Macdonald. In December 1916, the five-mile-long Connaught Tunnel opened, which bypassed the dangerous and deadly ten-mile stretch of Rogers Pass.

Truxtun and Pollux

ne of the worst naval disasters in United States history occurred off the southern shores of Newfoundland in February 1942. Three American destroyers were making their way through a raging winter storm on the frigid North Atlantic seas to the Argentia military base in Newfoundland. Only one destroyer, the USS Wilkes, would make port. The other two, the USS Truxtun and the USS Pollux, would have a very different fate on the jagged rocks off Newfoundland’s south coast.

World War II was intensifying and there were many German U-boats in the North Atlantic, so evasive measures had to be taken to avoid being torpedoed. Just four months before this incident, the German U-boats had successfully torpedoed the USS Ruben Janes, which sank within five minutes. So the Wilkes-Pollux-Truxtun convoy was following a zigzag route.

Avoidable Tragedy

On this voyage there was also a ferocious winter storm brandishing the great danger of the ships colliding with each other in the zero visibility. On top of that, their navigators were forced to use what is called dead-reckoning because there were no stars visible to get their exact location. This meant that they used their last known position to estimate their current location. Unfortunately, the navigator on the lead ship, the Wilkes, had made a minor error when he had last looked at the star Antares. Not only that, but their radar — new technology at the time — did not work reliably in the ice and fog. This, combined with inexperienced sailors, contributed to the disaster that followed.

But even then, tragedy could have been avoided. The navigator on board the Pollux realized they were in trouble, and he tried to convince the captain to change course by 30 degrees. But the captain was obligated to follow the flagship, which was the Wilkes. Finally, he agreed to change his course by 10 degrees. But by then it was too late — shortly after 4 a.m. on February 18, all three ships ran aground.

The Wilkes was fortunate enough to be able to back off the rocks, but the Pollux and the Truxtun were both firmly stuck. The jagged rocks had pierced their hulls, releasing fuel into the sea all around them. It was obvious that eventually the pounding surf would break the ships apart after repeatedly smashing them against the rocks.

THE TRUXTUN

When daylight arrived, the men discovered that they were wedged between two rocks in the middle of a cove that was shaped like a crescent. About 250 yards from where they were, they could see a small, rocky beach surrounded by 300-foot cliffs. But getting to that beach through the violent and powerful waves pounding the cove would be a real challenge.

After several failed attempts and loss of life, they managed to get about 24 men on shore. But then the rafts that they were using became hopelessly entangled in the rocks while being pulled back to the ship, and no matter how hard they pulled, they wouldn’t budge. They were forced to cut the lines, thus stranding about 120 men onboard. They had no choice but to wait for further help.

In the meantime, two of the men had managed to climb the icy cliffs by hacking handholds using a small knife. At the top, they lowered a rope. Then they set out to find help. But the only thing they saw in the white, snowy expanse was a small shed with hay in it. By now, one of the men was semi-conscious from the icy sleet and chilling wind, so he stayed behind. The other man was left to hopefully go in the right direction for help.

Three miles later, at 8 a.m. and near death, he stumbled into the Iron Springs Mine with the news that a destroyer had run aground. By his description, the men knew that it was Chambers Cove. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, they immediately closed down the mine for the day. The news quickly spread to the nearby town of St. Lawrence, where food, clothing and blankets were quickly brought to the mine by the townspeople.

First
Responders

The first rescuers to Chambers Cove were shocked by what they saw when they looked over the cliff. About 100 men clung to safety lines hanging from the Truxtun. About a dozen men were in the water, clinging to pieces of debris, desperately trying to make it to shore. Some men were dashed upon the jagged rocks, and others lost their lives by being smashed onto the cliffs. Quickly the Newfoundlanders climbed down the rope that had been tied to the top of the cliff and immediately waded into the frigid water to haul as many men to safety as they could reach. Then they built fires to keep them warm. Hour after hour, they tirelessly worked to save as many lives as possible. Some men died from exposure, even after reaching the beach.

Next, they had to get the exhausted men up the cliff. The Newfoundlanders were forced to put them over their shoulders and carry them up to safety. Their job was made more difficult because the oil that encased the men often added an extra 50 pounds of weight. It took eight or nine men to hold the rope so two men could be hauled up. It was a backbreaking and laborious job, but they kept at it until every survivor was brought up.

One rescue was particularly daring. As the Truxtun began to break up, men were washed overboard or had to jump ship. One sailor was stranded on an oil-covered rock surrounded by pounding waves. He could not be reached by land or sea, and he was below the tallest part of the cliff. But a courageous 25-year-old, Henry Lambert, tied a rope around his own waist and had himself lowered to the stranded sailor below. The dozen men holding the rope were then able to pull them both to safety. It was 3 o’clock in the afternoon before the last survivor from the Truxtun reached shore.

About this time, one of the St. Lawrence men, Lionel Saint, noticed debris floating in from the west that didn’t belong to the Truxtun. Could another destroyer have gone aground? He decided to trek west to find out.

Removing the Filth

When the men were brought to the mine, it became quickly apparent that more was needed than hot soup, tea and warm clothes. Thick coats of oil covered the sailors’ frozen bodies. The women of St. Lawrence were called on to bring their galvanized tubs, soap and extra clothing. They spent the next several hours bathing the men, scrubbing the oil off them and rubbing warmth and life into their frozen limbs and bodies. Then they were clothed, fed and taken to the homes and warm beds of St. Lawrence. So selfless were they in giving that many of the rescuers came home to find that there were no clothes to change into! From the Truxtun, 46 lives were spared, while 110 sailors died.

We, too, are in the same position as those sailors were. Because we are covered in our sins, we are unfit for God’s holy presence. We cannot save ourselves, for not one of us can live a sinless life. That is why God says, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). But because God loves us, He has made a way to save us from our sins. It is through the death of His Son, the Lord Jesus, on Calvary’s cross. “Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh [body], but quickened [made alive] by the Spirit” (1 Peter 3:18). “Once suffered for sins” — the work is complete. “The Just for the unjust” — because He was sinless, God is pleased with His perfect sacrifice for us. Christ died in our place so that “He might bring us to God.”

THE POLLUX

But what of the Pollux? They were trapped at Lawn Point about 65 feet from shore where a rocky ledge rose about 25 feet above the ocean with a 100-foot cliff rising behind it. After many feats of courage and with great effort, five men managed to cross the violent and freezing water, making it safely to shore. Three of them decided to climb the cliff to get help. The other two men had made it to a cave-like cleft in the rock.

But time was running out for the Pollux. The ship was beginning to break up because of the relentless pounding of the powerful waves. Finally, at about noontime, the front end of the Pollux broke completely away. Believing that the breakup of the Pollux was imminent, Captain Turney allowed all able-bodied men to abandon ship. Over 100 men climbed down the sides of the ship and jumped into the swirling, ice-cold water. Within a few minutes, over 80 men had died, being sucked under by the oily sludge, which acted like quicksand, or smashed against the cliffs by the raging surf. The men who had first made it to the cave were able to pull about eight sailors out of the maelstrom, and about 20 more made it to a rocky ledge. Horrified, the Captain forbade any more men from abandoning ship. They would have to find another way to get to shore.

At about this same time, a boy and a man arrived at Lawn, a small fishing village about 10 miles from the Pollux, with the news that they had seen a ship aground at Lawn Point. They had heard about the Truxtun because of switchboard communications with St. Lawrence. It seemed impossible that another destroyer had gone aground — but what if it were true? Even though Lawn Point was a five- or six-hour trek through rough terrain, a party of eight men set out with horses and rescue equipment.

The three men who had made it up the cliff found nothing but a vast, white expanse of snow, so they started walking to find help. They met up with Lionel Saint, who promptly directed them to Iron Springs Mine. It was about five miles away and would take about three hours of walking through strong, bitter winds and waist-high snow drifts to reach it.

Back to the Pollux. One of the men who had reached shore had risked his life to cross a narrow ridge of ice to where there was a ledge closest to the ship. They were able to establish a secure line to which they could attach a breeches buoy. By 4:30 that afternoon, the Captain, the last man aboard the Pollux, had safely reached the ledge, with about 122 men in all. They were safe for the time being, but from where they were, it was impossible to scale the cliffs, and worse, the tide would soon be coming in, making the ledge much smaller. They desperately hoped that help would arrive soon.

Compassionate Care

Meantime, Lionel Saint and the other men had reached Iron Springs Mine with the shocking news that another ship had run aground. Immediately, the exhausted men of St. Lawrence set out to rescue the men of the Pollux. But the men from Lawn had arrived at the top of the cliff first, and five of them were already pulling sailors from their icy perch far below. Because of the dark and bad weather, three men built fires, chopped wood to keep them going and prepared a shelter for spending the bitter February night outdoors. They would have to wait until morning to put the sailors on sleds and horses to take them to St. Lawrence, which was about six miles away.

After hours of hauling men up the cliff, they were relieved of this backbreaking work by the arrival of the men of St. Lawrence and some men of the U.S. Navy. Finally, the last person was hauled up from the icy ledge and also the cave-like cleft in the rock. The next morning saw all of the men transported to St. Lawrence by sled and horse. There, many still unconscious, the men received the same capable and compassionate care that those of the Truxtun had received. Of the Pollux, 140 lives were spared, and 93 sailors died.

The courage and heroism of the rescuers shines out. Were it not for the bravery and untiring work of the men of St. Lawrence and Lawn and the compassion, kindness and care of the women, many more lives would have been lost. These sailors were too frozen, numb and weak to help themselves. They knew that they needed to be saved, and not one of them refused help when they needed it.

Vital Lessons

But how are we brought to God? By admitting to God that we’re sinners and in need of a Savior. By faith, accepting the work that the Lord Jesus did on Calvary’s cross for our sins. Here are some verses to rest on. They are God’s promises to you. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9). “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).

Please do not be deceived into thinking that there could be another way. You will be just as off course as the Wilkes was. Not only was the Wilkes off course, but she led two other ships off course, with disastrous results. If only they had listened to the navigator on the Pollux! “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

The sailors never forgot the kindness showed to them by the men and women of St. Lawrence and Lawn. Not only did they save their lives, but they gave them food, clothing and also their warm beds, watching over them all night long and into the next day. Many strong friendships were formed that lasted over the years to come. Not only that, the United States government was deeply grateful. In gratitude for their incredibly courageous and selfless deeds of kindness, they built a fully-equipped, state-of-the-art hospital in the town of St. Lawrence. The U. S. Memorial Hospital still stands today as a testament to that fateful day.

The 76-year-old story of how 203 men died and 168 men lived is well worth remembering. But an even greater story is one of God’s love and compassion towards mankind. Not only is He willing and able to save us from a life of sin and sorrow, but He is able to save us for all eternity. Though over 2000 years old, God’s gracious message of salvation is offered to you today. Will you receive it? 

Shall We Meet?

Shall we meet beyond the river,
Where the surges cease to roll?
Where in all the bright forever,
Sorrow ne’er shall press the soul?

Refrain:

Shall we meet, shall we meet,
Shall we meet beyond the river?
Shall we meet beyond the river,
Where the surges cease to roll?

Shall we meet in that blest harbor,
When our stormy voyage is o’er?
Shall we meet and cast the anchor
By the fair, celestial shore?

Shall we meet with Christ our Savior,
When He comes to claim His own?
Shall we know His blessed favor,
And sit down upon His throne?

Dare for a Thrill!

Saint Martin is a popular destination in the Caribbean Islands for tourists. On the Dutch side of the island, Sint Maarten, tourists can go to Maho Beach and get sand blasted as large planes take off and land at the nearby Princess Juliana International Airport. All that separates the beach from the runway is a narrow road and a fence. Thrill-seekers like to hang on to the fence or stay on the beach under the direct path of the planes in order to feel the jet blast. Hanging on to the fence, or “fence-surfing” as it is called, is popular because the jet blast from departing planes is much more severe than from arriving planes.

But there is real danger to this thrill. People do not realize just how powerful the blast from a jet engine can be. A large jet-engine aircraft can create back winds up to 120 mph for up to 200 feet behind it! And that’s at only 40% maximum rated power! Jet blasts are capable of flattening buildings and destroying cars. It is a real danger to unsecured objects or to people standing in its path. Airport personnel, such as mechanics and baggage handlers, know how powerful jet engines are and wouldn’t think of standing behind a jet engine. They are wise enough to know that it could easily kill them.

CLEARLY MARKED

Because of this known danger, authorities discourage tourists from hanging onto the fence or from standing on the beach while a plane is landing or taking off. There is a gigantic sign hanging on the fence which reads DANGER in huge red letters. Underneath is a picture of a plane taking off with a person being blown away by the jet blasts. But an even clearer warning is given than that: Big red words clearly state, ”Jet blast of departing and arriving aircraft can cause severe physical harm resulting in extreme bodily harm and/or death.” The message could not be stated in plainer words.

Yet YouTube has many videos of people standing on the beach getting sand-blasted, being blown into the ocean, or hanging on to the fence for dear life as planes take off and land just a few feet over their heads. It all made for lots of thrills and good fun until July 12, 2017. A 57-year-old woman from New Zealand was hanging onto the fence as a plane was preparing to take off. When it did, the jet blast caused her to lose her grip on the fence, blowing her backwards and smashing her head on rocks. She ended up dying in the hospital a few hours later. She had paid the ultimate price for disobeying a very real and clear warning.

ARE WE ANY WISER?

Our tendency is to say, “How could she be so foolish?” and “She got what she deserved!” but, really, are we any different? Seeing people hang on the fence is just a graphic picture of what’s in all of our hearts. We naturally do not like to be told not to do something. Since the Garden of Eden, man has rebelled against God. God put Adam and Eve in a beautiful garden and commanded Adam, saying, “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:16-17). In Genesis 3 we read how Satan came to Eve and deceived her into disobeying God. Adam, knowing what he was doing, also disobeyed God. Man has been rebelling against God and authority ever since. God told Adam exactly what would happen if he disobeyed. “Thou shalt surely die,” God said. And, just like God decreed, man has been dying ever since that act of disobedience, for Adam’s sinful nature has passed upon us all.

But God, who knew what would happen when Adam and Eve disobeyed Him, also knows what will happen to man after he dies. Those who put their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and His shed blood on Calvary’s cross for their sins will enter into eternal life with Him. Those who live on in their sins, unforgiven, without thought or repentance towards God will perish forever. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). Since the stakes are so high and the consequences of our choice towards God are eternal, God gives us a faithful and clear warning of what happens if we die in our sins. “The wages of sin is death [hell]; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). And again, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). God is “long-suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). He clearly tells us what the end result of our choice towards Him will be. “These shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal” (Matthew 25:46). God’s warning could not be clearer: Will you choose to be with those who “go away into everlasting punishment” or will you choose to join the “righteous into life eternal?”

Ignored Warnings

Although there had been other injuries previous to this lady’s death, people ignored the warnings. A person who works in the aviation industry put it this way: “After all, up until now they’ve been able to say, ‘Nobody has ever died.’ Now ... I’ve already actually heard it from several people: They’re saying, ‘Only one person has died. Must’ve been a freak accident!’ And ... they’re still standing behind the airplanes.” Man loves to make excuses for his rebellion, but God says, “How shall we escape, if we neglect [or, are careless of] so great salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3).

Did the people holding on to the fence see the signs? Yes, they did. Did they know that what they were doing was wrong? Yes, they did. The director of tourism for the island, Rolando Brison, told The New Zealand Herald, “I met with the family of the deceased this evening and while they recognized that what they did was wrong, through the clearly visible danger signs, they regret that the risk they took turned out in the worst possible way.” Regret is an awful feeling, because it means that it didn’t have to end that way. It is right to have compassion for how this family must feel. God’s Word tells us that those who reject His offer of salvation will regret it for all eternity. God describes these people as being in “the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:42,50). So serious is the warning that Jesus repeats it twice! Oh, the hopelessness of being in this condition, knowing that it doesn’t have to be so! Do not ignore God’s solemn warnings, but receive Him as your Lord and Savior now, while you still can.

From a thrill to death in just hours shows that life is pretty short! Be Aware of the Actuarial Table helps to put that in perspective.

Be Aware of the Actuarial Table

Sitting with a group of people who were chatting away, I overheard a man advising a middle-aged woman. “Be aware of the actuarial table,” he told her. I didn’t know what he meant by this statement.

So when I went home, I did some research and found out that actuarial tables are neatly arranged columns of data on a spreadsheet used by the life insurance industry to predict the average life spans for people of different ages. For instance, a 59-year-old will, on average, have 23.6 years left to live. They may also contain a column listing the probabilities of persons of different ages suffering death in the next year and perhaps another column listing the probabilities for persons of different ages suffering death within the next 10 years.

I suppose what the man meant when he said, “Be aware of the actuarial table,” was for the lady not to squander away her time when she only had a limited amount of it.

“Beware of the actuarial table” is good advice for every person because it reminds us that we will not live forever and that life at best is very uncertain. We have a limited amount of time on this earth, and then eternity begins.

Even if a person lived to the ripe old age of 100, 200, or even 400 years old, what is this amount of time in comparison with eternity? It’s almost nothing! And we are all headed to eternity.

What Comes After Death?

Actuarial tables predict the probable age someone will die. For this reason, they are sometimes called morbidity tables. But they cannot tell you where you will spend eternity after that death. To find this out, you need to go to God’s Word. The Bible says, “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Eternal life is only “through” the Lord Jesus. He is the One who conquered death and arose from the grave.

Those persons who have repented of their sins and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ will, in the future, enter into heaven. On earth they came by God’s grace to know the love of Him who died on the cross. In heaven they will come to know this love in all its surpassing greatness. When it comes to Christ’s love, what we know of it on earth could never be more than a short prelude to the endless symphony we will hear in heaven. There is nothing morbid about heaven. It is all about life. Those in heaven will exude life. Death will be swallowed up of life and have no part to play there.

On the other hand, people that never repent will be sent away to hell at death, “where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:44). Hell is the exact opposite of heaven in every way except for one — its duration. Both will last forever.

Hell is a morbid place where death never dies. In this life, death comes once at the end. But those sent out of God’s presence for rejecting the Lord of life will experience the grief of death non-stop for all eternity. The sufferings in hell will never be extinguished. It is a place where misery abounds and knows no relief.

The Lord Jesus spoke more about hell than any other person in the Bible. Here are three things He said about the subject:

“If thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire” (Mark 9:47).

“Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25:30).

“I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear Him, which after He hath killed hath the power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear Him” (Luke 12:5).

Heaven and hell are the two eternal destinies, and if you don’t end up in the joys of one, you will surely end up in the misery of the other.

God has given each one of us only a limited amount of time to make the all-important decision to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. No one knows how long that time may be. Those who put it off run the risk of losing their never-dying souls in hell.

Won’t you wisely consider the shortness of life and come to the Savior of sinners who said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?” (John 11:25-26).

“This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15).

You will make a choice that lasts forever, but you may not realize that you are actually making your choice right now. In the next story you might consider, Was Betty Heath aware she was making Her Fatal Choice?

Her Fatal Choice

Betty Heath was dying, but she would not believe she was near eternity. She kept expecting to get better and would not give up hope of life. When urged to come to Christ, she would only say, “I have to think about it.”

A Christian friend determined to tell her the truth of her condition. He came and found that her Bible had been thrown aside. Gasping for breath as she lay dying, she was still trying to drown the voice of her conscience.

The Christian said gently, “Betty, don’t you know that you are very near the end of your life? Has no one told you the truth that the doctor has said your case is hopeless? You will meet God in a few hours!”

A despairing look came into her eyes. “Are you sure what you’ve told me is true?” she cried.

“Yes, I’m sorry, but it is true,” he answered sadly, “and I am come with a message of God’s love for the last time. Will you accept Christ now?”

Her final answer was given: “Not tonight.”

The next day she was gone. She died with bitter curses against God and herself. “Lost!” she cried. “Too late! I have thrown away my opportunity!”

Don’t wait. A deathbed is a difficult place for repentance. Come today! It may be too late tomorrow.

Come to Christ with your heavy heart, and He will give you rest. Come with your troubled, burdened conscience, and He will give you peace. He says, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

There is no true rest to be found on earth. Friends fail us, and the world cannot satisfy us. Pleasure fades quickly. Come to Jesus and come now. He offers forgiveness, rest and peace.

Do you want a happy home in heaven? You must come as a bankrupt sinner to a rich and giving Christ, as having nothing to the One who possesses all, as guilty and lost to One who pardons and forgives.

You must come with eyes of faith to see the living Savior, with ears of faith to hear His welcome to you, with a heart of faith to believe unto righteousness, and with lips of faith to confess His blessed name.

“If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9).

Taken by Stealth

There is a deadly epidemic that has been quietly sweeping across America for the last several years. Its grip is so strong and tenacious that once the unsuspecting person is hooked, it almost always ends in tragedy. The problem has become so serious that even the media, law enforcement and state governors have taken notice.

The name of this deadly epidemic is opioid addiction.

The reason why most people are unsuspecting is because they are given an opiate prescription by someone they trust, usually by a family doctor, a surgeon, or even a dentist! They do not realize that continued use of these drugs leads to dependence, and then addiction. By the time the doctor will no longer write the prescription, it is too late for the patient. They have already become firmly addicted. Desperate for this opioid, which is really a form of heroin, they turn to the drug dealer on the street. Unfortunately, more and more of these illicit opioids are tainted with deadly substances that result in overdosing and end in death. Over 80% of heroin addicts have become addicted by using opioid prescriptions!

The facts and numbers are absolutely staggering. Over 2.5 million Americans are now addicted to heroin, and the number is swiftly rising. From 1999 to 2015, the number of deadly overdoses has risen from 8,200 to over 33,000 a year! It is so common for a dentist to prescribe an opiate prescription after removing a wisdom tooth that there are now over 100 million opioid tablets in circulation. And that’s just for a wisdom tooth removal! Multiply that by the many knee and back surgeries, and you can begin to see how huge the problem really is. In many states, more young people die from overdosing than from car crashes.

How We Entered the Crisis

Since morphine is so highly addictive, scientists developed heroin in 1874 as an alternative painkilling drug. Not realizing just how addictive heroin is, doctors prescribed it with abandon for every ache and pain, and Bayer even sold it over the counter as a cough suppressant! Soon, the inevitable happened: People looking for pain relief became drug addicts, resulting in broken families and death by overdosing. Congress, realizing the seriousness of the problem, took action and passed the Harrison Narcotics Tax Act in 1914, which was signed into law by Woodrow Wilson. This law threatened doctors with jail time if they prescribed opioids to an addict. For many years, this law controlled the problem.

But a century later, both laws and attitudes have changed. Powerful drug companies determinedly lobbied Congress and doctors in an effort to spike their profits. Synthetic heroin is now subsidized through Medicaid and the VA. Sure enough, the pharmaceutical companies made millions. A whole generation of doctors was raised with the idea that people deserved the right to opioids if they were in any kind of pain. And sure enough, the epidemic of a century ago is being played out again, with the same disastrous results.

Research by the Star-Ledger, a New Jersey newspaper, found that fentanyl-linked deaths in the state skyrocketed from 42 to 417 between 2013 and 2015!

Another Epidemic

Sin is just like an opioid. At first, it can seem very appealing and even necessary. But slowly, over time, it gets a powerful grip on us, trapping us in its deadly vice. Greed, lust, pride, lying and bitterness are just a few of the sins that can seem quite small, but are really powerful and deadly. Once firmly ensnared in their grip, it is impossible to escape on our own. God calls this being “hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13). We need help outside of ourselves. In fact, the situation is so desperate that God says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart” (Jeremiah 17:9-10). Sin is so deceitful that many people think that they can control it, or at the very least balance it out with good works. But sadly even our “good works” are sin in God’s sight, for He clearly states, “We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses [good works] are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities [sins], like the wind, have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6).

Jeff, an opioid addict himself, told his story to a worldwide audience. He had been in a car crash in 2006, which resulted in a serious and painful back injury. A trusted family orthopedic doctor gave him Oxycodone, which is synthetic heroin, which he became addicted to. At first, opioids kill pain, which is why they are a blessing to cancer patients and are used in end-of-life situations. But continued use too often leads to addiction and death. Jeff had been on opioids for 10 years and had tried to go off them three times. He had been free of it for 60, even 90 days, and then his back pain got to be too much. That’s when he took the lowest dose of Oxycodone — and within a month, he was up to the highest dosage that he had been on before. When he was interviewed, he was on methadone — another opioid — taking increasingly lower doses, trying to get off opioids altogether. When asked the question, “Do you think you’ll ever get off of it?” his response was sad and hopeless. “Umm, I do not know. I honestly do not know at this point.”

Freedom

Many people have gotten free of opioid addiction. Just as the opioid addict needs help and healing, so does every man, woman and child in this world. We are all born under the unrelenting grip of sin and are powerless to save ourselves. If we continue on in our sins, it will surely end in our eternal death. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), BUT, wait — there is wonderful news for helpless sinners — ”but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). “Gift of God” and “eternal life” — how can this be? Because “when we were yet without strength ... Christ died for the ungodly. But God commendeth [makes known] His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6,8). How do we receive the “gift of God”? The answer is given in Acts 16:31: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Once you have accepted the Lord Jesus as your Savior, ask Him to help you to live for Him and to make your trust in Him known to others. Romans 10:9, which is another wonderful verse to know, reads, “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” “Thou shalt be saved” is an unbreakable promise from God when we personally accept His gift of salvation.

Staten Island has seen a dramatic rise in accidental opioid overdoses. One funeral home director, Kevin Moran, has become a spokesman against opioid abuse. He shows young people a pile of death certificates of young lives that have been cut short by an accidental overdose. “Most of the children who have ‘passed’ started on opioids after being in a car accident or getting a sports injury and were prescribed painkillers by a doctor and got hooked,” Moran says. He further states, “It could be the wealthiest kid and the poorest kid, and the drugs don’t care.”

Many states, acknowledging the opioid epidemic sweeping through the country, are trying to stem the flow of opioid prescriptions. New Jersey’s attorney general stated, “We are very much at war here.” An illicit pill could be laced with fentanyl or even carfentanyl, an opioid strong enough to bring down an elephant! Yet people are so desperate for these opioids that they risk their lives by going to the drug dealer. “It’s a game of Russian roulette any time you take any type of drug on the street,” Deborah Cole, a forensic scientist, says. “They are ... from a drug dealer who only wants to make money. He doesn’t care about you.”

In order to control the problem, New Jersey has passed laws regarding the distribution of opioid prescriptions. Doctors are only allowed to write a prescription for five days for first-time users, with strict guidelines for continued use. Unscrupulous doctors who over-prescribe opioids can be severely penalized, losing their license and even facing up to 20 years in jail. In 2016, in New Jersey, a record 31 doctors were disciplined for allegedly over-prescribing painkillers. It is hoped that these measures will stem the tide of opioid pills on the market and, in the end, save many lives.

There are those who are sounding a faithful warning against opioid abuse. It is the same with those of us who know the Lord as our own personal Savior. We are told to sound a faithful warning to you against dying with your sins unforgiven. “[Jesus] said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel unto every creature. He that believeth ... shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15-16). The stakes are high; the consequences are dire. What will your choice be?

Painkillers have their hidden, addictive hook. Credit has a “catch” too. But there’s an even more subtle and deadly “catch” than credit has to offer. Read more in The Catch.

The Catch

Credit — what a great thing it is! It enables us to buy things that might otherwise be out of reach. Vacations for adventure; cars and clothes for style; electronics for entertainment; homes for security and comfort: All these things can be bought on credit. But there is a “catch.” The money that is borrowed has to be paid back. It can get people in a lot of trouble when the bills come due and they do not have the means to make a payment. Credit ratings fall, repossessions begin, and wages may even be garnished. Credit which seemed like a wonderful thing just a short while ago may seem pretty foolish then.

In our society that likes to buy now and pay later, many people have learned difficult lessons about credit. Do you know that sinners are living on credit, that is, borrowed time before God? Their situation is analogous to someone who has gone on a spending binge and none of the bills have come due yet, but they will soon, and they have no way to cover their debts. You see, there is a “catch” to living apart from God in sin. At some future moment, sinners will come into judgment for what they have done on earth. Second Corinthians 5:10 reads, “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”

Take note: Someone who has overspent on credit may appear very happy for a short time. But when the bills come due, the happiness has a way of vanishing away. The same scenario takes place in the lives of sinners.

They may appear happy for a season as they pursue sinful pleasures and leave God out of their lives, but that happiness must be short-lived because God, the just Judge of all the earth, must punish sin.

A Long-Term Solution

It is absolutely certain that at some future moment, God will demand payment for the sinful acts in each person’s life. Sin has earned a debt requiring everlasting punishment. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). And this death includes not only separation of body and soul, but also the separation of God from the soul in the darkness of hell.

What does a sinner have in their possession to cover such a debt?

Nothing! This is why the Lord Jesus came to earth and gave His life for sinners. “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3).

Oh the love and mercy of God! When He saw the world of lost sinners speeding on to hell, He opened His heart and sent His Son the Lord Jesus into the world. “The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world” (1 John 4:14). The Lord Jesus died on the cross so that the debt of sin might be paid for all those who would believe on Him. “The wages of sin is death,” as we quoted before, “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Because of His death in the sinner’s place, all those who believe on Him have the debt of eternal punishment wiped off their accounts. From the God who would have judged them and sent them to their eternal destruction, they may instead receive the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life. Could anything be greater than this?

With credit, many people think they can buy all sorts of things that bring happiness and contentment. But true happiness and contentment are not to be found in created things. God has made our hearts so large that only He Himself could ever fill them. God is waiting for you to return to Him by faith in the Lord Jesus. He wants you to come to know Him and love Him. Oh, won’t you end the mad spending spree where you think you can rush after sin as if you will never come into judgment, and instead place your trust in the God who made you and loves you?

Some people are blinded by their rush to buy and have now. But there are more serious forms of blindness. Read Bandits Use Pepper to learn more.

Bandits Use Pepper

When two men robbed Charles of $5,000, he just stood and cried. He couldn’t help it, because they threw pepper into his eyes, grabbed his money, jumped into a waiting car and fled.

Similarly, Satan throws the “pepper” of blinding sin into the eyes of his victims as he grabs for their most valuable possession — their precious soul. We are told in the Bible that Satan “hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Sin blinds people to the value of their souls, to their own sinfulness and to their need of the Savior. It also blinds them to the fact that Christ has died in order to purchase them “with His own blood,” paying the complete price of their redemption.

All you have to do is to believe it, to accept it as an accomplished fact and then to trust and rely on His sacrifice to be eternally saved. Have you put your trust in Him? If not, why not now?

Empty Delusion

Oh, turn ye, oh, turn ye, for why will ye die,

When God in great mercy is coming so nigh?

Now Jesus invites you; the Spirit says, “Come,”

And angels are waiting to welcome you home.

How vain the delusion, that while you delay,

Your hearts may grow better, your chains melt away;

Come guilty, come wretched, come just as you are,

All helpless and dying, to Jesus for care.

The contrite in heart He will freely receive:

Oh! Why will you not the glad message believe?

If sin be your burden, why will you not come?

It’s you He makes welcome; He bids you come home.

There Is No Substitute for Human Blood

“There is no substitute for human blood.” I was getting ready to give blood and was reading the papers I needed to sign before getting in line to donate. The handbook stated that blood can’t be manufactured in a lab or taken from an animal; people are the only source of this life-giving fluid.

When you give a pint of this miracle liquid, it is tested for disease and your blood type is determined. The blood is then separated into three parts: red cells, plasma and platelets. Each part can be used to treat a different patient; hence a single blood donation may help save as many as three lives! Your body replaces the liquid volume in 24 hours. The red blood cells take several months to regenerate.

I had donated blood before, and I knew that, because of my blood type, I was a “universal donor.” That meant that my blood could be used for most patients even if it didn’t perfectly match the recipient’s blood type. It’s hard to explain how good it felt to help out my fellow-humans this way. I learned that one in three people will need blood sometime during their life: after an accident, during a major surgery or because of blood diseases, to name just a few reasons.

Grandpa Lee

There is a story in our family about the time Grandpa Lee drank creek water and got typhoid fever. This was before modern medicines. He was very sick; doctors said he needed a blood transfusion. Since blood banks did not exist, his father-in-law went down to the fire station. He drove each fireman to the hospital, one by one, to have their blood tested. Would anyone be a match? None of the firemen had the correct blood type! Then their wives volunteered to get their blood tested. He took them to the hospital one by one until, finally, one of the women’s blood samples matched Grandpa Lee’s. She kindly donated what was needed, and he recovered.

Years later, my aunt and uncle decided to regularly donate blood to their local blood bank. They made many trips to the blood bank over the years to “anonymously share this vital, personal gift,” in my uncle’s words. A pint of blood was taken from their veins at each visit, until they had donated gallons and gallons for the needs of unknown strangers. God will reward them in a future day. He has a record of this, as He does of everything we do with our bodies. Are my relatives in heaven because they so generously gave this valuable gift? No! Years earlier they had trusted in the blood of Another to take away their sins. Heaven’s doors opened to them when they died because they came under the shelter of the blood of Jesus Christ.

The True Universal Donor

You see, as there is no substitute for human blood, there is also, more importantly, no substitute for Jesus’ blood. He is the true Universal Donor. Human blood can keep people alive here on earth for maybe 100 years. Only the blood of Jesus Christ can make us clean and fit to live FOREVER in God’s presence. This offer is open to all who will receive it.

The Bible tells the story of a Roman soldier who saw Jesus hanging on the cross after He had already died. He stuck his spear into Jesus’ side, thinking, perhaps, to dishonor His blessed body. But out of that spear wound came the blood that saves us. Jesus was our Substitute. His blood spilled out on the ground at the foot of the cross. He gave His life so that we sinners can be saved and come to heaven to live with Him when our lives on earth are over. “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus ... through faith in His blood” (Romans 3:24-25).

Jesus didn’t stay in the grave. God raised Him from the dead after three days, and He lives in heaven today. The resurrection was God’s way of showing that He accepted the blood of His Son Jesus, shed on Calvary’s cross for our sins. Ask God to give you the gift of faith to believe that “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son” cleans you from all sin. “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:7).

God has given many amazing gifts, such as blood, to us. Find out about one very unique gift from God in The “Human Wind Gauge.”

The Human Wind Gauge

This story has a colorful person, personality and place. The person and personality are gone, but the place still exists.

Along Newfoundland’s west coast lies a stretch of land called Wreckhouse. It has proven to be faithful to its name. It has become infamous for the high winds that can blow down from the over 2000-foot-high Long Range Mountains, exploding onto the barren plains below. The force and power of the winds can exceed 124 miles per hour, equaling that of a Category 2 hurricane. It is normally a peaceful and quiet place, but when the winter and spring southeasterly winds come, it can be a very dangerous place to be. Many transport trucks have been blown over on their sides because the driver foolishly ignored local wind warnings.

Today, the Trans-Canada Highway passes through this stretch of land, but there was a time when the Newfoundland Railway cut a straight line through these barren plains. Train engineers feared this stretch of the line, as the fierce winds would often pick up a car and toss it off the rails, causing it to land on its side. This happened to many an unfortunate engineer before Lauchie MacDougall came into the picture.

Lauchie MacDougall

Lauchie MacDougall was a trapper and farmer who lived in Wreckhouse, just a few yards from where the train passed by. He had the unique gift of being able to “smell” the wind, and without any instruments to aid him, Lauchie could predict with near total accuracy when a windstorm was coming. He used his other senses as well; he would observe the cloud formations and what direction they were blowing in the sky. He could also predict storms by how his clapboard house shook when the winds started to blow. Using observations such as these, along with his sensitive nose, he began to advise engineers and railroad officials when he was certain that a storm was coming.

It was 1935 when the Newfoundland Railway hired Lauchie MacDougall, finally having grown weary of the expense and time of retrieving many upended cars. They provided him with a telephone and $20.00 a month pay for his services. He was responsible for calling the Port aux Basques agent, telling him when to stop the trains from going through Wreckhouse. During his tenure, he held up hundreds of trains and is credited with averting many tragedies, even saving many lives.

Better Gifts

Lauchie had a God-given gift which he used in a good way. God tells us that every good gift comes from Him, and He expects us to use it for the good of others. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17). The “Father of lights” is God Almighty, and we can love and trust Him because with Him there is “no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” This means that God is always the same — He never changes. Not only is God loving, kind and good, but He is also holy, just and pure. We are not suited for God’s presence because we are sinners who have rebelled against Him. This is why He sent His Son to die on Calvary’s cross for our sins. Jesus was and is perfect and sinless in every way. He paid our sin-debt towards God in full on the cross! Jesus is God’s perfect gift towards lost mankind. “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Come to God in repentance, putting your faith in the work that the Lord Jesus did on the cross for your sins. When you put your trust in Jesus and turn towards God, you are receiving God’s perfect gift of salvation. Accept God’s free gift right now, today, while you are able — you will never regret it!

Outdated?

But there were some among the railway officials who thought that Lauchie’s talents were exaggerated. They thought that this method of having one person decide whether a train should go or stay was, well, rather outdated. So, one day in 1950, when the winds were not that strong, they decided to send the train through even though Lauchie had warned them not to because of a storm that was coming. It proved to be a big mistake. The Wreckhouse winds awoke in full force and spoke for Lauchie MacDougall, tossing several cars off the tracks and stopping the train. One article states three cars were turned over, and another article states that twenty-two were flipped off the tracks. Either way, that did it! The railroad officials learned a hard lesson, and Lauchie MacDougall’s job was secure. Earning respect among the Newfoundland Railway workers, he gained the title of “Gale Sniffer Extraordinaire.”

Though they never disregarded Lauchie’s warnings again, they did try to modernize in a more scientific way later on. They installed an anemometer on the plains at the base of the cliffs with a land line into the Port aux Basques terminal with a gauge that gave wind velocities. But again, the mighty winds took up Lauchie’s cause and blew the anemometer away. Lauchie used his unique gift of wind sniffing for good, and he provided this service to the Newfoundland Railway until his death in 1965.

God’s way of salvation isn’t outdated either. “The word of God is [living], and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). God’s living Word speaks just as clearly as it ever has to the heart and conscience of all. The only question is whether or not we guard our hearts and refuse to believe what God is saying to us.

The next story, Finding Your Way Home, gives another of God’s unique gifts to His creation.

Finding Your Way Home

At times you can hear them before you see them, flying in the large V pattern, maybe one kilometer high, heading south, of course. The honking geese signal the transition between summer and fall and as much as we don’t like this “signal,” it is still beautiful to hear and see.

Just how did they come up with this idea of the V formation? The Creator planted in their brains a way to do less work. After all, flying the V is like walking through the snow with your parents when you were a kid. By following in their footprints, it makes it much easier to walk.

This V, along with a favorable wind, enables geese to fly more than 1000 km in one day. Where do they get that stamina? Many people wouldn’t even want to drive that far in one day even on a major highway. And as you know, some highways resemble the “parking lot” formation at certain hours.

It is more amazing that first-year birds can find their winter home despite never having seen it before. And then they return the following spring to where they were born. Even with a GPS we sometimes don’t do that well. We marvel at the wisdom of our Creator.

Do the geese use the sun, the stars, the earth’s magnetic field or previously seen landmarks? We don’t really know. A recent idea suggests their retinas, the photosensitive nerve layer deep in the eye, acts as a chemical compass that interacts with the magnetic field. It’s merely an educated guess. I have worked in the vision care field for forty years and I think we know about one percent of how the eye works. My guess is that we have a bit more to learn.

These migratory birds make me think of the prophet Isaiah’s words (chapter 1) when he says that animals know where and when to go home — unlike many lost and lonely people who stray blindly through bumpy, back roads. He records, “The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, My people doth not consider” (Isaiah 1:3).

And yet the Lord has given us a navigational tool to help us. He did not create the world and then step away to let it falter on its own. He gave us the Bible, with a clear message about how to have a relationship with God and how to experience the forgiveness of all our sins.

The Apostle Matthew records the words of Jesus: “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Now that is the way home. Jesus invites us to Himself. Bring your weariness and your burden of sin and guilt to Him. He is able to give you rest because when Jesus was on the cross, “the Lord ... laid on Him the iniquity [sin and guilt] of us all.”

Look it up for yourself in God’s GPS, the Bible. It’s in Isaiah 53, verse 6. And there is more there to read. It could help you find your way “home.”

Jersey Shark Attacks 1916

ot many people know that just over 100 years ago, there was a series of shark attacks along the Jersey shore that terrorized the nation and the world for two weeks. When it was over, three men and two boys had been viciously attacked; there would be only one survivor.

The summer of 1916 was brutally hot. Philadelphia and New York were virtual ovens, driving all those that were able to take advantage of the cool breezes to the Jersey shore. Polio, a deadly virus that caused many children to become crippled, was also on the rise, and the prescribed health benefit was also the clean air and cool breezes of the Atlantic Ocean. It was a time when ocean-bathing was becoming a favorite pastime, and the Jersey shore was the place to be.

One Saturday afternoon, on July 1, a prominent family from Philadelphia took the train to Beach Haven for a weekend of relaxation. Charles Vansant, his mother, father and sisters were staying at the Engleside Hotel, one of the most luxurious hotels on the Eastern seaboard. Charles decided that there was just enough time to go for a swim before supper. On the beach, he made friends with a dog, who joined him for his swim. Charles was a good swimmer, and so was the dog. They were about fifty yards out, when the dog suddenly turned and quickly swam back to shore. Though Charles called to the dog, he would not go back in the water. Charles then decided to head back to shore himself. This was when a few people on the beach saw a large fin slicing through the water. With yells of “Watch out!” they tried to warn him, but he couldn’t hear them above the surf. He made it to water that was three and a half feet deep before the shark attacked, grabbing him by the left leg just below the knee.

The lifeguard, Alexander Ott, and other men rushed to help Charles. What followed next was a fierce tug-of-war with a large shark that simply would not let go. As the men dragged Vansant and the shark to shore, it was not until the shark’s belly scraped the sandy bottom that it finally released its grip and swam out to sea. Vansant was carried to the hotel and gently laid on the manager’s desk, where he died an hour later. Though his physician-father desperately tried to save him, his injuries and loss of blood were too great. He was only 25 years old.

Dozens of witnesses could testify that Charles was bitten by a shark. Many had seen the large dorsal fin sticking up out of the water and the large, pointed nose. Lifeguard Alexander Ott certainly knew that it was a shark, as he stood just a few feet from the shark and had looked into its deadly black eyes. Yet only a few newspapers carried the story, and the New York Times referred to the creature as a “fish.” As the story spread, most people did not believe that it was a shark, even though sea captains had reported large sharks swimming off the coast of Newark and New York. Surely it had to have been a swordfish, a giant sea turtle, a mackerel or even a killer whale. After all, respected scientists believed that sharks were shy creatures with weak jaws and small appetites. Also, there had never been a proven case of a shark attack on a human before. So, the story quickly faded from the news and people’s minds.

Strike TWO

Only five days later, it happened again.

Charles Bruder was a popular bellhop who worked at the upscale Essex & Sussex Hotel at a popular Spring Lake resort, which was about 45 miles north of Beach Haven. It was his habit to swim in the ocean during his early afternoon break, which was exactly what he was doing on July 6. Without warning, he was viciously attacked by a large shark. A woman on the beach alerted the surfmen that a red canoe had capsized. But there was no red canoe, only Bruder swimming in his own blood as he struggled to stay above water. When the surfmen got to him and lifted him into the boat, they were surprised at how light he felt — until they realized that both legs had been bitten off, one just above the knee and the other just below the knee. He was able to tell the surfmen that a shark had attacked him before he lost consciousness and passed into eternity.

There were over 500 people on the beach that witnessed this event. This time, there was no question that a man-eating shark had attacked and killed a man. Within the hour, every beach along the Jersey shore was closed. Overnight, people’s perceptions about sharks had changed; instead of being shy, they were considered predators; instead of being weak and powerless, they were perceived as being ferocious and vicious; and instead of having small appetites, they were perceived as prowlers with voracious appetites that were always on the hunt.

Dealing With Reality

It took two vicious shark attacks and hundreds of witnesses for people to finally admit to the fact that there was a killer shark or sharks on the loose. We, too, have ample witness that there is a God, that there is life after death, and that we must spend eternity in one of two places, either heaven or hell. Creation tells us that there is a God, “for the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they [man] are without excuse” (Romans 1:20). Simply put, God is saying that He has revealed Himself so clearly in the natural world that we have no excuse for not seeing His existence.

Jesus Himself gave fair and faithful warning of what comes after death. He also told us how to escape eternal judgment. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:16-18).

Steel mesh barriers were immediately placed around the public beaches in an effort to keep sharks out. A sharp eye was kept out for any shark sightings up and down the entire Jersey shore. After Charles Bruder died, a respected doctor, who was also an experienced fisherman, examined the wounds and came to a conclusion: There was only one marine animal capable of inflicting such wounds — a shark — and not only that, he was absolutely certain that he would strike again.

The doctor was right — the war between man and sharks was not over yet. There would be three more shark attacks in one day — in the most unlikely place! Find out how and where it happened in A Deadly Afternoon.

A Deadly Afternoon

Thirty miles north of Spring Lake and about fifteen miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean lies Matawan Creek. It is a tidal creek, more suitable for mud turtles and cattails than a shark. However, it is only about a mile and a half from Raritan Bay, which does open into the Atlantic Ocean. Many fishermen would cut through Raritan Bay on the rising tide and enter Matawan Creek.

Thomas Cottrell, a retired sea captain, was well aware of this fact. One day, on July 12, he was crossing the trolley bridge when he spotted a large dorsal fin coming towards him. He thought his eyes were playing tricks on him, but as the fish came closer, he could clearly see that it was a large shark! Heart pounding, he ran into town to the barber shop, where he knew the barber (who doubled as the police chief) and many men would be. Bursting through the door, he shouted, “There’s a shark in the creek!”

No one budged; there was no response. Yes, they had all heard about the two attacks along the Jersey shore, but that was six days ago, and, besides, how could a shark be in a creek that was only a foot deep at low tide? It was just simply impossible! Surely, the stories of shark attacks and the heat were playing tricks on the Captain’s mind!

Because of their unbelief, three more people would become victims of a large shark. Did you know that it is the sin of unbelief that lands people in hell? “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9). “But the fearful, and unbelieving ... shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8). Do not let the sin of unbelief carry you into a lost eternity! Put your trust in Jesus now, while you are still able to do so!

Captain Cottrell, realizing that he was not going to get help there, wasted no time. He hurried to his small motorboat, intent on sounding the warning along Matawan Creek. He knew what he had seen — he knew that there was a large, dangerous shark in the creek! He also knew that Matawan Creek was a favorite swimming place for young boys on brutally hot days like this one.

Disaster Strikes Again

Somehow, he just missed Lester Stillwell and his friends, who were cooling off in the creek. Or it could be that the boys jumped in the creek for a swim just after Captain Cottrell passed by. Lester was showing his friends how he could float, when suddenly there was a huge splash, and a large shark rose out of the water, its jaws wide open. Grabbing Lester by the arm, it dragged him under. The terrified boys jumped out of the creek and ran for the center of town, shouting, “A shark’s got Lester!”

Though the hysterical boys knew what they had seen and were certain that it was a shark, the townspeople responded with disbelief. They thought it was far more likely that Lester, who was an epileptic, had suffered a seizure and had drowned. Two of the town’s best swimmers, George Burlow and Stanley Fisher, decided to do their best to at least retrieve Lester’s body. In front of a watching crowd, they took a rowboat out and used long poles to drag the bottom of the creek. After an hour went by, they decided to jump in to try and find the body. They dove again and again, with no results. Finally, George Burlow decided to give up and swam back to the dock. Stanley decided to dive one more time. “I’ve got it!” he shouted, coming up with Lester’s body. Two men in a rowboat went out to help him, when suddenly he shouted, “He’s got me!” In front of a horrified crowd, Stanley battled the shark, hitting him in the nose and gouging his eye. The shark dragged him down several times before Fisher was finally able to free himself and struggle to the dock, where strong arms lifted him to safety. Horrified, the crowd saw that the flesh and muscle had been torn away on Fisher’s right thigh. Though he was rushed by train to a hospital, he died that evening due to shock and loss of blood.

Thirty minutes later, downstream, unaware of the attacks on Lester Stillwell and Stanley Fisher, three boys were enjoying a refreshing afternoon swim in the creek. They were two brothers, Joseph and Michael Dunn, and their friend Jerry Hollohan. Suddenly, they heard a voice warning them to get out of the water because there was a shark in the creek. Not even trying to figure out what this meant, they swam for the dock as quickly as they could. Michael made it to safety, and then Jerry did. Joseph was still about ten yards out when, suddenly, he was grabbed by the leg and pulled under. It would seem that he was to be the shark’s fifth victim!

Final
Deliverance

But his brother and friend were both brave and loyal. They jumped back into the water and grabbed Joseph by the arms, trying to pull him from the shark. But it was a losing battle. The shark was too strong for them. Just then, Captain Cottrell arrived with other men, two of which jumped into the water to help the boys. In the next few minutes, a furious tug-of-war followed between man and shark. Finally, the shark opened its jaws and released Joseph. He, too, was rushed to the hospital. Though his leg was horribly mangled, his bones were not crushed, nor was an artery severed. He would be the only one to survive the shark’s attacks. Two months later, he was released from the hospital with a bad limp, which eventually healed over time. He lived on into old age.

Overnight, sharks became public enemy number one. Fishermen, sea captains and any man who was able to patrolled the entire Jersey shore, determined to catch this monster shark that was ruthlessly attacking unsuspecting victims. President Woodrow Wilson issued an order to the Coast Guard to seek out and destroy sharks. The mayor of Matawan offered a $100.00 reward to anyone who could catch and kill this deadly shark. Large numbers of sharks were being killed with a vengeance. No one knows how long it would have gone on, except that two days later, a Mr. Schleisser killed a great white shark in Raritan Bay at the mouth of Matawan Creek. When he cut the stomach open, fifteen pounds of flesh and bones were inside that seemed to be human. It seemed that the ferocious man-eating shark had been killed! Everyone was relieved and rejoiced to hear the news. As there were no more attacks that summer along the Jersey coast, or in the next ten years, it seemed that they had indeed caught the one shark that had attacked five people.

We have an enemy much greater than this who is waiting to devour us. It is Satan, our archenemy. He does not want any to come to salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus, so he distracts us with pleasure, business, entertainment, or any lie or deception that he can use. “Wait, don’t do it now,” he will tell you, or, “What will your friends think?” or, “If you accept the Lord Jesus as your Savior, you won’t be able to do this or that!” But God’s Word is clear. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Do not let anyone or anything hinder you from coming to a saving trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. “The Lord is ... not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

Sound the High Praises

Sound the high praises of Jesus our Lord;
He came and He conquered, His person adored;
Sing, for the power of the tyrant is broken;
The triumph’s complete over death and the grave;
Vain is their boasting, Jehovah has spoken,
And Jesus proclaimed Himself mighty to save.

Sound the high praises of Jesus our Lord;
He came and He conquered, His person adored.

Praise to the Conquerer! Praise to the Lord;
The enemy quailed at the might of His word;
In heaven He ascends and unfolds the glad story;
The hosts of the blessed exult in His fame:
In love He looks down from the throne of His glory,
And rescues the ruined who trust in His name.

Narrow Escapes

enry Flescher was 93 years old and enjoying life to the full, when he was nearly killed by a freight train. He had taken a wrong turn, and because it was very dark, he took the curve too fast, causing his car wheels to become stuck on the tracks. He soon realized that a freight train was fast approaching the crossing, but at the same time, he realized that he couldn’t get out of his car!

Natalie Grant, who was sitting in her car nearby, took out her iPhone and started to record what was happening. A group of people ran to help Mr. Flescher and pulled him out of his car a minute or two before the train tore into his car. The video ends with the deafening sound of crunching metal.

When interviewed by WSVN, Grant said she felt it was a miracle that Mr. Flescher had been pulled out in time, and definitely a miracle that her car had not been damaged, as Flescher’s car had slid in front of her car, barely missing it. “I definitely think God was looking out. I just think it wasn’t his time yet. He still has more work to do on earth,” she said.

Yes, God has His eyes on every one of us. “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest [made known] in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:13). Not only that, but our very breath is in His hands. “In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind” (Job 12:10). Graciously, God spared Mr. Flescher’s life this time, and, as our story will further show, God had spared his life many times before this.

A Survivor So Far

Henry Flescher was also grateful to the good Samaritans who had saved his life, and made sure to thank them. “I’m a survivor so far. I’ve survived a lot of things,” he said. “I’m very active, thank God. I’m doing things, and it pays back.”

What did Henry mean by saying that he was a survivor and had “survived a lot of things”? Not only had he survived the Holocaust, but he had survived being interred in seven different concentration camps. His story is a long list of narrow escapes.

At 92, he hosted a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) forum where he told of his experiences during the Holocaust, how he survived, and how he views life now. The interest was so great that he received over 7,000 questions!

He had been born in Vienna, but escaped to France in WW2, where he was captured in Lyon trying to buy grapes at a market.

At 18, he was put on a train for Auschwitz with no food or water and only one bucket for those crammed into the cattle car. It is hard to imagine surviving in such inhumane conditions and impossible to imagine the smell! After six days, the Germans took 300 men off the car, while the rest were sent on to Auschwitz to be killed. Henry was number 298. Understandably, he says that he will never forget the number 298, having escaped death by a margin of three.

Life in the concentration camps was both cruel and brutal. After being taken off the train, he was sent to a shoe factory at the Ohrdruf concentration camp for four weeks. He was then transferred to Peiskretscham where he worked on bridges, from 6:00 in the morning until 6:00 in the evening. After a few months, it was on to Blechhammer, a particularly brutal place. He described it as “hell.” This is where his front teeth got knocked out, and a friend of his was hanged because he had used a telephone wire as a belt to hold up his pants. Punishments were part of the daily routine.

The Gross Rosen concentration camp was next. Becoming sick with dysentery, he almost gave up hope of living. When asked how he survived, he replied, “I lived for tomorrow. I was always positive. I have always believed in God. Before and after. God didn’t kill the people; the Nazis did.”

Things were so desperate at this camp that some of the inmates risked their lives to kill a dog, then cooked it, and ate it in secret. He said it was a “feast,” the best meal that they had had in a long time. But now, he says, “these days I prefer steak.”

He finally won his freedom in 1945 by slipping away from a death march and hiding out in a chicken coop until he met up with some American soldiers. By then, he was very sick, barely weighing 66 pounds.

Henry still bears the mark of the Holocaust — a tattoo on his arm received at Auschwitz — the only camp that tattooed prisoners for identification.

Life and Eternity

His experiences have given him a certain perspective on life. He says that while most people are never happy and complain too much, he enjoys life and finds it beautiful. “I didn’t personally learn anything from the Holocaust. We have one life to live, and you have to enjoy it. There is no room for hate in this world,” he said. When someone asked him if he could forgive those who had committed such atrocities, he replied that he would “never forgive, never forget” what had happened, though he was not consumed with hate. “Hate doesn’t improve anything,” he said.

Many of the sentiments expressed by Mr. Flescher are very noble and good. If this world were free of hatred and men treated one another as they should, who can deny that this world would be a better place? Most of us do naturally respond according to how we are treated by others. Mr. Flescher’s comment, “I’m doing things, and it pays back,” meaning he is doing many good deeds and being rewarded for it, has some truth to it as far as our life here on earth goes. But what about after we die? What does God have to say about our “good works” now and then?

Like Mr. Flescher, many people say they believe in God, and they even say nice things about Him. They think because they acknowledge that there is a God and do good works, such as giving to the poor, being kind, truthful, just and upright, this will earn them a place in heaven. But this is not the truth. It is just one of Satan’s lies. The Lord Jesus addressed this very issue when He said, “Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:21-23).

Picture it! It is just as if you were to stand before the Lord and say, “But Lord! I’m a good person! I never hurt anybody, and I lived the best life that I could possibly live! I did the very best that I could do!” But the Lord’s answer will be, “I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.” The Lord is telling us that only those who do “the will of My Father which is in heaven” will be truly saved. Because “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), we are told that “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). Because we have all sinned, we have fallen short of God’s perfect standard. Therefore, we are powerless to save ourselves. Because God is not willing that any should perish, He had pity on us and sent His Son to die on Calvary’s cross for our sins. His blood cleanses us from all unrighteousness in God’s sight, if we will put our trust in Him. When we admit to God that we have sinned and ask Him to forgive our sins for Jesus’ sake, He will forgive us. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). This is how we have “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). Only then can we be certain of eternal life.

God has given Mr. Flescher 93 years to come to Him. He is graciously giving you an opportunity to come to Him before it is too late — the law of averages dictates that most of us will not live to be 93 years old. Why not accept His gift of salvation now, and live for Him because you love Him?

Receiving God’s goodness and giving Him credit for it isn’t easy for us to do. Consider what God says about that in The Life of “Your Own Hands.”

The Life of Your Own Hands

istakes — we all make them, and we should all try to learn from them.

But there is one mistake that no one has ever learned from. This is the mistake those make who never come to repentance and faith in Christ.

All during their lives on earth, God waited for them to renounce their sins that He might forgive them and bring them back to Himself. But this they never did.

They found what the prophet Isaiah calls, “The life of their hand,” that is, they found their satisfaction in what they could do themselves — the work of their own hands — and not in the God who made them and holds their very breath in His hands. The verse goes on to say, “They were not grieved” (Isaiah 57:10). It didn’t bother them that they left God out of their lives. They saw no need for forgiveness and no need of repentance. When those that leave God out of their lives leave this world, what will be left for them but the barrenness and suffering of a lost eternity? “These shall go away into everlasting punishment” (Matthew 25:46).

True Deliverance From Sin

God can forgive every crime, every trespass, every sin. He can wash away every stain, but He does not ignore the sins of those who never turn to Him in repentance.

Certainly sin can be looked at as a terrible mistake. It is a terrible mistake to steal, to lie, to kill, to hate, to cheat, to live as if God doesn’t exist. Sin is a mistake that always produces a bitter state of unrest and emptiness in the soul. This is so because God is dissatisfied with sin. He is so dissatisfied with it that He hates it, and He has promised that those who continue in their sins will one day be punished in hell.

Don’t be satisfied with the life of your own hands when those hands are stained with the sin that God hates!

Instead, look to the Lord Jesus by faith and find the life that comes through Him. “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” the Lord Jesus said; “no man cometh to the Father but by Me” (John 14:6). Our souls were made to live through faith in the God who made us. Apart from God we will never find rest or satisfaction for our souls.

Not until a soul is forgiven can they begin to live for God. It is only through faith in Christ that we receive the forgiveness of sins. “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:7).

Won’t you come to the Lord Jesus Christ so that you can find life through His name?

“These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name” (John 20:31).

Putting us right before God requires more than our own works. Get the details in The Most Marvelous Cleansing Power!

The Most Marvelous Cleansing Power

alk into almost any grocery store and most likely you will see hundreds of different types of soap: Soaps that come in tall bottles and short bottles, colorful soaps and colorless soaps, granules, liquids, gels, flakes, bar soaps, soaps that wash hands, hair, bodies, dishes, floors, tires, tiles, cars, windows and just about anything else under the sun.

We can wash a lot of things clean with soap, but one stain that cannot be scrubbed clean with them is the stain of sin on us and in us. “Though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before Me, saith the Lord God” (Jeremiah 2:22). Every member of the human race needs a deep cleaning, because they have been deeply stained with sin. “We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6).

We are far too precious to go on living “marked with iniquity” and as “filthy rags.” If we owned a piece of clothing that we really liked and it was fouled with ugly stains of dirt, grease or grime, we wouldn’t rest easy until it was cleaned. How much more should we never rest easy until we have the stain of sin washed away?

Our Greatest Need

The greatest need of any of us is to be cleansed from the stain of sin. This is because, if the stain is not removed, it will bring us into eternal ruin. Those who die with the stain of sin on them will be banished out of God’s presence forever and sent away to the darkness of hell.

God loves us way too much to let this terrible evil happen and not do something about it. The Lord Jesus came into this world and shed His precious blood on Calvary’s cross. Because He is the Son of God, His blood has the power to wash away the sins of all those who place their faith in Him. “The blood of Jesus Christ [God’s] Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Even if your sins were ten thousand times greater than they actually are, His blood could still wash your soul clean the instant you believe.

When a person believes in Christ, His precious blood washes them whiter than snow and makes them fit for heaven. “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18).

This is the most magnificent cleansing power in the universe! Nothing compares with it. It takes the most horrible stain — sin — and washes it away so that not one spot remains. It makes us ready to enter into God’s presence.

At some future moment, everyone that has been washed in the blood of Christ will be welcomed into heaven where he or she will see the Lord Jesus, and the sight will fill each with so much overflowing joy that words are powerless to describe it.

The soaps you may buy at a store are good for many purposes, but they are powerless to cleanse anyone from the stain of sin. To get rid of that stain, you need to humble yourself and come believing to the Lord Jesus Christ.

A songwriter wrote:

There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;
And sinners washed in that blessed.flood
Lose all their guilty stains.

Won’t you come to the Lord Jesus so that He may wash away all your guilty stains?

An Unexpected Refuge

he story of 9/11 and the World Trade Center towers are well-known. Many acts of heroism and bravery on the part of New York’s firefighters and a host of other brave people have been well publicized. But not many people know of another heroic story that played out on that fateful and terrible day.

When the United States closed its airspace due to the terrorist attacks, it meant that all international flights had to be diverted to Canada. On September 11, 2001, almost 400 flights were headed westbound over the Atlantic Ocean. Over 200 flights were able to turn back to Europe, but 167 were too far across to turn back.

Gander International Airport in Newfoundland, an island off the northeast coast of Canada, was the control center for all of this air traffic. Between St. John’s, Halifax and Gander, all 167 planes were safely landed. But it was Gander’s part on that fateful day that was so extraordinary and memorable. Without preparation or foreknowledge, they were suddenly going to be the host for nearly 7,000 stranded passengers. Their kindness, generosity and hospitality would never be forgotten by the grateful people who experienced it.

Gander Airport, although small, was well able to handle the 38 planes that filled its tarmac that day. It had been a refueling stop for transatlantic flights in the past, and before that, it was a military base for planes watching for boats in World War II. So handling the big jets was easy. A far tougher problem was what to do with the nearly 7,000 people on those planes.

One by one, the mayors of Gander and the surrounding areas addressed each problem as it arose. The bus drivers were on strike, but every one of them came back to work in order to transport people to where they needed to go.

A town of Gander’s size, with not quite 10,000 people, only had some 500 hotel beds, so Gander and the neighboring towns closed down their elementary schools and opened them up for the “plane people,” along with churches and Legion Halls. When they ran out of space in these buildings, the townspeople warmly welcomed people into their own homes, offering them showers, toiletries and food.

Since everyone was without their checked bags, many did not have their medications or extra clothing. The two pharmacies in town filled each and every prescription for free. Store owners opened their shops and told the people to take whatever clothing they needed.

Gander and the surrounding area’s restaurants could not possibly handle this influx of people. The Salvation Army and Red Cross, along with the residents, donated an enormous amount of food and casseroles. Where to put it all? The solution was Gander’s ice rink. They simply placed food on the ice surface — it became known as the world’s largest refrigerator.

Banks of phones were installed for people to use, free of charge. It didn’t matter where they had to call or how long the call was. Schools’ computer rooms were set up so people could send e-mails. Students made themselves available to help those who needed it.

Another Shelter

Those stranded passengers found a welcoming and safe shelter in a very real time of need. But did you know that there is another shelter that we are all in need of? It is a shelter from God’s righteous judgment towards our sins. Because we have all sinned and because God cannot allow sin into His holy presence, we need to be made clean in His sight. If we are not made clean and acceptable in His sight, God says, “As it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). This is a very serious and faithful warning that God gives to us, and we need to listen to what He says.

But that is just one side of the story. God not only warns us of judgment to come, but He also tells us of a way of escape. It is found through His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Jesus lived on this earth and was nailed to Calvary’s cross for our sins. He became the perfect sin offering for our sins, paying our penalty for them. We are told, “He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:4). This means that God is perfectly satisfied with the work that Jesus did on Calvary’s cross for our sins. Now we need to accept God’s gift of salvation. We need to accept the Lord Jesus as our own personal Savior. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Just as those passengers found a sure and safe refuge in time of trouble, when we put our trust in the Lord Jesus, we have a sure and certain refuge for our souls. We will be able to say, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

Gratefulness

The passengers were so moved by the generosity and kindness of the Newfoundlanders that they found it hard to leave. They all tried to leave them some money as a token of their appreciation, but it was refused. On the way home, Shirley Brooks-Jones, one of the passengers of Delta Flight 15, came up with a plan to help the young people of the area, as a way to show their gratitude for all that had been done for them. Apparently, many of the young people had dropped out of high school because there were no jobs to be had. So they came up with the idea of a scholarship for the village of Lewisporte and the outlying areas around it. As of last year, 228 young people have received that scholarship, many of them making the most of the opportunity to become productive members of society. It was a beautiful and practical way for the grateful passengers to express their appreciation for all that had been done for them.

Those of us who have trusted the Lord as our Savior will spend all eternity praising Him for His great gift of salvation. “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15) will be the song on our lips and in our hearts. Will you be among them?

Refugees, like stranded passengers, face many struggles far from home. But who are the ultimate refugees? Find out in The Refugee Crisis.

The Refugee Crisis

The number one refugee crisis in the world isn’t found in the Middle East where millions of civilians are fleeing war-torn Syria, nor is it in Uganda where tens of thousands are seeking refuge from tribal conflicts in neighboring countries, nor is it on the Thailand border where tent cities have sprung up to house refugees from the brutality in nearby Myanmar. Although the pain and suffering of these refugees is great and they need help, there is a refugee crisis that far surpasses all of them in scope.

A Great Global Conflict

The number one refugee crisis in our world is the result of the greatest conflict it has ever known. This great global conflict is the war for the souls of men and women which is raging even at this present moment.

In this conflict, the Son of God came to earth in what is called the incarnation. Although He was God from all eternity, in a moment of time He became also a man. You can read about His marvelous life, the irrefutable miracles He did, and His teachings in the Gospels. When He was thirty-three years old, He was betrayed by one of His followers, given a false trial by men who hated Him, and then condemned to death. During His trial, He was whipped with a whip similar to a cat-o’-nine-tails. This whip had several sharp pieces of metal tied into its leather thongs. It dug long furrows into His back and tore up His flesh. Other men wove a crown of thorns and thrust it down onto His head. The thorns were hard and sharp as nails. Others, in derision, then hit Him on the head with long reeds, driving the thorns against His head. He then was made to carry His heavy cross down a narrow street to the place of execution. Spikes of iron were driven through His feet and hands.

The cross was then raised up between heaven and earth so His death would be a spectacle for the crowd that gathered to watch. Many came to mock and jeer at Him.

For six hours He hung on the cross. During the last three hours, a supernatural darkness covered the face of the earth. Then the Lord Jesus cried out, “It is finished,” and He gave up His spirit and died.

The prince of the world, Satan, in order to win the war for souls, inspired the hatred and cruelty in the hearts of those who murdered the Lord Jesus. This malignant being thought that by putting the Son of God to death he had obtained a great victory. Little did he know that he was carrying out God’s plan of salvation. In this plan, the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, would die and shed His blood to make a way for His creatures’ sins to be washed away. “The blood of Jesus Christ [God’s] Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Because of His death, sinners can find a refuge from the punishment and judgment their sins deserve. Also, by His death, sinners, who had turned their backs to God and done things hateful and wicked in His sight, have a way to realize the immense love God has for them. How great must be God’s love for sinners, since He willingly gave His beloved Son to die in their place!

The Good News

This is good news for all mankind suffering from the ravages of sin. What are the ravages of sin, you might ask? You may see them in the wars which destroy the lives of countless innocent people. “From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?” (James 4:1). You see them in the lives of meth addicts, substance abusers, and alcoholics. You may see them in the lives of children who have been battered and abused by those who were put in the world to protect them. Perhaps, a little less obviously, you can see the ravages of sin in the lives of those who are so proud that they feel they have no need of God in their lives. Terrible as these ravages are, they are not the worst. The worst ravages will take place in the future when God calls every soul to give account of their lives before Him in judgment. “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). Many, because of the impenitence of their hearts, will be sent out of His presence for all eternity. “These shall go away into everlasting punishment” (Matthew 25:46). How will those who rejected Christ quaver in their souls when they hear the sentence passed upon them! No ravage of sin on earth compares to how the hearts of men and women will be laid waste when they realize they will be sent away into everlasting darkness!

Oh, that everyone would come to Christ and find Him to be a refuge from the ravages of sin!

Even if your sins are of the most grievous kind, you may turn from them and put your faith in Jesus Christ. He will be a shelter for you from the coming storm of judgment. By His grace, He will be with you and help you to walk uprightly in life. What a refuge sinners have in the crucified Savior!

Ongoing Battle

The war for souls is far from over. Satan knows that if he can keep men and women from coming to the Lord Jesus, they will spend eternity with him in hell. He is willing to fight tooth and nail in order to keep each individual sinner in his clutches. Many of his stratagems to keep souls from coming to Christ involve deceit. He tries to convince them that happiness is found in the possession of material goods. Or he may do his best to keep them in a careless state of soul where they never give a serious thought to the things of eternity. In his malignancy, he tries to convince men that they may take refuge in good works, false religions, or just about anywhere but the blessed Savior. Oh, don’t fall for these devices, but come to the One who is always true and loves you so much He was willing to give His life for you. Then you can say like David long ago, “I cried unto Thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living” (Psalm 142:5).

The biggest refugee problem in the world today is that millions upon millions of people have not fled from the ravages of sin and found refuge in Christ and therefore are in great danger of spending eternity in hell. Will you flee like a refugee from the land of sin and shame and take refuge in the Christ of Calvary by believing on His name? “Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:15). Don’t wait another moment before coming to Him who is mighty to save!

Where Is Your Refuge?

Say, where is your refuge, poor sinner,
And what is your prospect today?
Why toil for the wealth that will perish,
The treasures that rust and decay?
Oh! Think of your soul that forever
Must live on eternity’s shore,
When you, in the dust, are forgotten,
When pleasure can charm you no more.

’Twill profit you nothing, but fearful the cost,
To gain the whole world if your soul should be lost!

The Master is calling you, sinner,
In tones of compassion and love,
To feel that sweet rapture of pardon,
And lay up your treasure above:
Oh! Kneel at the cross where He suffered,
To ransom your soul from the grave;
The arm of His mercy will hold you,
The arm that is mighty to save.

Bitten by a Bat!

Rabies is a deadly virus that kills over 55,000 people worldwide, including a few people in the United States every year. Those that contract the virus must start the vaccination shot process within the first 24 hours, which will prevent the onset of rabies. Rabies symptoms usually appear within one to three months, but they can appear as soon as one week to as long as one year. Once rabies symptoms appear, it’s too late for the vaccine shots to do any good. Those who are not vaccinated immediately can count on a 100% chance of dying a slow and agonizing death, usually within a week’s time. No one in recorded medical history has survived rabies without vaccination. That is, until the year 2004, when Jeanna Giese became the world’s first survivor of rabies without vaccination.

Jeanna had picked up a bat which was in her hometown church to take it outside when it sunk its sharp teeth into her finger and wouldn’t let go. Flinging the bat off her hand, she carefully cleaned the wound and thought nothing more of it. About a month later, she was having double vision (a strong sign of rabies), fatigue, nausea and numbness. When told about the bat bite, her pediatrician immediately suspected rabies. He promptly had her transferred to the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.

Desperate Measures

There, Dr. Rodney Willoughby put her in a drug-induced coma and on life support. During this time, she was given a medley of anti-virals, in the hope that while her brain was shut down, her immune system could fight off the virus. Dr. Willoughby knew that the rabies virus “hijacked” the brains of its victims by scrambling its signals, but leaving their brains undamaged, killing them through organ failure. Jeanna’s parents agreed to this radical, never-before-tried treatment.

After six days, Jeanna was brought out of the coma. She had beaten the rabies virus, but at a tremendous cost. She had to go through the long, slow process of re-learning how to talk, walk and eat. She made gradual but steady progress and was released from the hospital after 11 weeks. She continued to improve, leading a productive life as a college graduate with a degree in Biology, eventually marrying and becoming the mother of twins.

Deadly Condition

We all have a condition far more deadly than rabies. It is our sinful state before a righteous and holy God. No matter how hard we try, no matter how “good” we may think we are, God sees us this way: “We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses [good works] are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities [sins], like the wind, have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6). What a dreadful, hopeless state to be in! Because of this sinful condition, we cannot enter into God’s presence, but are destined for “the blackness of darkness forever” (Jude 13). But wait! There is good news! God, who is “not willing that any should perish” (2 Peter 3:9), says, “Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom” (Job 33:24). Who is this ransom? We are not left to question or wonder, but are told, “Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened [made alive] by the Spirit” (1 Peter 3:18). Because God is satisfied with Jesus’ death on Calvary’s cross for our sins (He was and is the “just,” perfect, sinless One), we can now be brought to God. But how? What does God want from us? His Word declares, “Repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). “Repentance toward God” means that we must take sides with God against ourselves — we have all sinned against God and deserve His judgment, BUT God will forgive us our sins when we believe by faith that the Lord Jesus died on the cross for our sins and that He has made peace with God for us.

Hope Comes With a Price Tag

Dr. Willoughby’s stunning, never-before-achieved cure offered hope to other rabies victims around the world. It was the first step in a long learning process on how to treat unvaccinated rabies victims. His treatment became known as the Milwaukee protocol, and it has helped to save other lives. Of 33 attempts using the Milwaukee protocol, four have survived the virus, though only one was unvaccinated. Even though two rid themselves of the virus, they died during rehabilitation. The other two are a 15-year-old boy from Brazil (same age as Jeanna was) and a girl from Qatar.

A lot has been learned through these cases. They now know that they don’t have to put someone in a coma, but can simply sedate them. They also now know when a case is beyond treatment, and when there’s a good chance of recovery. The best prevention for getting rabies is, of course, to not get bitten by an infected animal. It is critical that those who own cats or dogs get them regularly vaccinated. Most people that contract rabies in the United States do so from being bitten by their pet dog or cat. Never approach a wild animal that seems “tame” or unafraid of humans, is acting aggressive, or is displaying strange behavior. The most common carriers of rabies in wildlife are: bats, raccoons, foxes, coyotes and skunks.

There are also some unexpected ways to become infected with rabies. It is possible to inhale the virus. Those who explore caves where there is a large amount of bat droppings infected with the virus can inhale it, as can those who work in laboratories with large amounts of the virus. This is very rare: Only four people were infected this way in the United States from 1950 to 1980. Two were laboratory workers, two were cave explorers, and one person became infected after a cornea transplant. In 2004, one organ donor managed to pass on the disease after his organs were donated to three people. After the liver and kidney transplants, all three people died from the disease. It was later discovered that the organ donor had been bitten by a bat.

As recently as 2013, another organ recipient died of rabies. The donor died in 2011 after agreeing to donate his liver, heart and kidneys. The other three recipients have been treated with the full complement of rabies vaccine to prevent the disease.

Rabies is an expensive disease to treat. The vaccine-immunoglobulin package costs $1,200 to $2,000 in developed nations and $100 to $300 in developing nations, which is often too costly for many people in parts of Africa and Asia. Giese’s treatment cost about $800,000, according to Willoughby.

Still, he made a most interesting observation: “I think it’s an obligation,” Willoughby said. “If you trip upon something that makes an untreatable disease treatable, how can you walk away from it?”

This is exactly how we, who have had our sin-debt paid for by trusting in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus on Calvary’s cross feel! There is a sure and certain cure for having our sins forgiven before a holy and just God. The price that the Lord Jesus had to pay was far greater than the cost of treating rabies. “Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:5-8). All of this He suffered for you and me — how can we not tell others of the good news of salvation? What will your answer be? Will you accept Him now as your Lord and Savior?

Disease can be subtle and sudden as rabies shows. But rabies isn’t the only hidden cause of disease-borne horror. Find out more in A Little Child of Eight.

A Little Child of Eight

Liam Flanagan was just eight years old. He was having fun riding his bike on the family’s driveway on their farm in Pilot Rock, Oregon. But suddenly he fell off his bike, giving himself a nasty cut on his upper thigh. His mother immediately took him to the nearby emergency room, where the doctor closed up the cut with seven stitches and put a bandage on the wound. Next, he gave his mother the necessary instructions on how to care for the wound. Then they went home, thinking that it was nothing serious, that soon his injury would be healed, and that he would be back to riding his bike again.

But a few days later, Liam began to complain of pain in his thigh. His mother didn’t think much of it, and she gave him Tylenol for the pain. But the Tylenol didn’t help, and the ache persisted. To be on the safe side, she decided to take Liam back to the emergency room to have his wound checked. There, the doctors gave her the shocking news that her son had flesh-eating bacteria and that it had travelled from his thigh to his armpit. This was terrible news!

Flesh-Eating Bacteria

Flesh-eating bacteria is a very serious infection and needs to treated as soon as possible, or your chances of survival are not good. About one in four people that get this infection die. So swiftly does this infection spread through the tissues, or flesh surrounding the muscles, that it can kill some people within 12 to 24 hours. It can start as an infection in a minor cut or bruise or after a chickenpox infection. Sometimes there is no obvious cut or bruise at all.

Most often symptoms include redness, swelling and pain at the site of the cut or bruise. Sometimes the pain can be at a distance from the wound and is usually far greater than you would expect from such an injury. The pain can travel quickly up an arm or a leg, or other part of the body, and there may be a fever. Many times, an arm, hand or leg may need to be amputated because of gangrene — the death of tissue in that limb.

Deadly Serious

When Liam was brought to the hospital, doctors did immediate surgery to remove as much of the infected tissue as possible. Then he was airlifted to a larger, more specialized hospital in Portland, Oregon. After undergoing several surgeries in an attempt to remove the flesh-eating bacteria, Liam lost his battle with this terrible disease. It was only eight days after the accident, when his young life was so suddenly cut off.

Flesh-eating bacteria can be very hard to detect, as it moves under the skin, destroying the body from within. The Bible tells us that we all have something living within us that is far deadlier than subtle bacteria. God calls it sin. Sin makes us filthy and unclean in His sight. “We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). Our hearts are black with sin. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9). Just as bacteria can kill the body, sin will destroy our souls. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

Any bacterial infection should be treated immediately. Once we get rid of the infection, we can be free to live. It is the same with sin. In love to us, God has provided a cure for sin, so that we can be free of its deadly grip. The cure for our sinful state is trusting in the Lord Jesus and His shed blood for us on the cross. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). This cure is free to all who will receive it. God wants you to come to Him now, while you still can. One day the door of salvation will be closed to you — either through death, or the Lord’s coming for those who have received Him as their Lord and Savior. God says, “Behold, now is the accepted [right] time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). If you are reading this story, you are most likely much older than eight years of age. God has been gracious and patient in giving you that much more time to come to know and trust in Him for your soul’s salvation!

Awareness

Liam’s mother wanted everyone to know what had happened to her son. She wanted to warn everyone about this terrible bacterial disease. She said that she never even heard of this disease before and wanted everyone to be aware of it. It is the same with sharing the “good news” of sins forgiven and salvation in our Lord Jesus Christ. God wants everyone to know that there is a cure for sin, so that we can enter into His holy, sinless presence without fear. We want to warn everyone that “the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). When we ask Him to forgive us our sins and receive Him into our heart, His cure for sin is forever. His promise is “eternal life” — won’t you come to Him today? Then, you too can have the privilege of sharing the “good news” with someone else!

Gatlinburg Inferno

Gatlinburg is a popular family-oriented tourist attraction nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. Many people go there to enjoy the beautiful scenery and to hike on the mountain trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. No one could imagine the sudden devastation that was to overtake them on the evening of November 28, 2016. That was when wildfires, burning for the past week in the Chimney Tops area overlooking Gatlinburg, raced down the mountainside and swept into Gatlinburg, being pushed by hurricane-force gusts of wind. In the end, 14 people were killed, 14,000 people were forced to evacuate and many homes and businesses were burnt to the ground, causing over $500 million in damages.

Many people said they never received a warning to evacuate. They ended up fleeing for their lives when the woods and homes around them went up in flames. Some people had to drive their vehicles down the mountain through flames and over fallen trees in order to escape with their lives. The reason given by officials for not sending out an evacuation order before the fire raced down the mountain was “loss of communication” due to downed wires and cell towers.

Clear Communication

God gives us clear communication in His Word, the Bible. There is something far more deadly than a forest fire facing each one of us. It is God’s righteous wrath against sinful man if we do not accept His free gift of salvation. Because God loves us, He gives us ample warning of judgment to come. God’s message of love to sinful man is clear. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ... He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, [why?] because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:16,18). The Lord Jesus Christ died and shed His blood on Calvary’s cross for our sins, becoming our perfect Substitute. When we accept Him as our own personal Savior, “He [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins” (1 John 1:9). We plead with you to receive eternal life, rather than suffer eternal condemnation.

Don and Nancy Richards, who had retired to a cabin on the mountain, escaped death because their neighbor knocked on their door and got them out. They thanked God for saving their lives, because they had only four minutes to escape. When they returned the next day, all that was left of their home was ashes and the foundation.

Sam Baldwin and his wife lived near the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and they also received no warning to evacuate. He was “shocked that there weren’t more people killed.” Finally, at around 9 p.m. Monday evening, “we decided we better go. ... It was too late. The fires were on the front of us and behind us. ... We thought we were dead.”

Jim Renfro worked as a ranger for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and was listening to the progress of the fire on the park radio. Realizing that the fire was getting too close, he sent his wife and younger son to safety, while he and son Jake stayed behind to try and protect their home. As they were attempting to make a fire break around the house, red-hot embers came flying over the ridge. After using a chain saw to remove a fallen tree crossing the road, they raced down the mountainside with the fire right behind them. Their home was completely destroyed in the fire, along with every other home in the area except one — their next-door neighbors.

“We’re safe,” Jake Renfro said. “That’s all that matters.”

True Safety

Are you safe in Jesus? In a soon-coming day, that is all that will matter. “Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15). Jesus bled and died on Calvary’s cross for your sins. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Acknowledge your sinful state before a holy and righteous God and accept His forgiveness in Jesus’ name, trusting in His shed blood on Calvary’s cross. Then you will be safe for all eternity!

Scott and Tammy Sharrod returned to find nothing but rubble after the fire. Tammy said, “We had five minutes to get off this mountain. We got off with the clothes on our back. We got off with a few pictures, and we thought we were going to get burned alive going down the mountain. We drove through fire for half a mile to get off this mountain, but God had His hand on us. There’s not a mark on my car. It should be melted, it should have caught on fire, but it just came so quick we didn’t have time to grab anything.”

The Fire’s Cause

There were several factors that caused this fire to be so deadly. The whole area and surrounding states had been experiencing “exceptional” drought conditions with low humidity, it was autumn and the deciduous trees had dropped their leaves and dead branches, adding to the dense fuel already on the ground. Then there was the hurricane-force winds which pushed the fire into Gatlinburg. The fire had actually been spotted on November 23, and investigators determined that it was human-caused. Shortly after the fire, two teenage boys were arrested and charged with aggravated arson. Sources close to the investigation say that the boys, aged 15 and 17, were “horsing around,” throwing lit matches on the ground around the Chimney Tops trail. Another hiker unwittingly snapped a picture of the boys walking away from the trail with smoke in the background. Because of their clothing, authorities were able to identify them, according to sources.

It is doubtful that the boys realized the seriousness of the consequences of their actions. Nor did those who were responsible for fire management expect the fire to get away from them the way it did. No doubt they hoped that the forecasted rains would come sooner than they did and that the wind would not pick up when it did or be as strong as it was. Once chances were taken, it was just a matter of time before the inevitable happened.

And so it is with us. If we continue to take chances and put off God’s gracious and free offer of salvation, it is only a matter of time before the inevitable happens and we end up in a lost eternity, without God, without hope, in torment, forever. There are no guarantees that we will be here tomorrow — so serious is the warning that God gives us that He says, “Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire” (Matthew 18:8). In other words, don’t let anything or anyone keep you from accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as your own personal Savior! Heed God’s clear and faithful warning, and trust Him now, while you are able to do so. There is yet time!

Clear warnings would have helped the residents of the Gatlinburg area. But sometimes active deception and not just carelessness leads to serious consequences. Read more about it in A Near Death Experience.

A Near Death Experience

Hundreds of people have recounted their near death experiences, or NDEs, as they are commonly called. Though there are many similarities among them, every one is unique and different in its own right. In short, an NDE is a powerful, psychological experience that someone may have due to a near death trauma or an extreme emotional experience that they are going through. Here are a few examples of people who have had NDEs.

Sharon Stone suffered a severe brain hemorrhage in 2001. In national interviews, she describes her experience as “a lot of white light and you see people that have passed on, and they talk to you, and then you pop right back into your body.” She described having a sense of “incredible well-being.” She described the feeling as beautiful and said, “It’s a very near and very safe ... and loving, and gentle, and okay [feeling], and there’s nothing to be afraid of.” As a result of her experience, she said, “I get to be not afraid of dying and I get to tell other people that it’s a fabulous thing and that death is a gift.”

Facts About What Comes After Death

The Bible says, “As it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). Those who are wise will fear a God who hates sin, for if they do not know the Lord as their Savior, they “shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone” (Revelation 21:8). Death is not a gift! “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:26). But God has given us a gift: “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Whose message are you going to believe?

Can We Bargain With God?

When Jane Seymour was 36 years old, she had a severe case of the flu and suffered an allergic reaction to a penicillin shot, which resulted in her NDE. She felt herself floating above her body, and she could see those working on her. She remembers not wanting to die because she did not want to leave her children. She remembers saying to God, “If You’re there, God, if You really exist and I survive, I will never take Your name in vain again.”

It is true that the Bible speaks against swearing: “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain” (Deuteronomy 5:11). But it also says, “We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). No matter how hard we try, we will never be good enough in God’s sight — good works will NEVER save us. “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). We cannot bargain or behave ourselves into heaven.

Certainty?

After his NDE, Peter Sellers said of death: “I’ll never fear it again.” He, too, had experienced “an incredibly beautiful, bright, loving white light above me.” The result was that he trusted spiritualists above all others, and he even turned to yoga. He stated that the experience strengthened his conviction that he was a reincarnated soul, but that he did not know who he was or why he was on this earth. According to Walker, his biographer, Seller’s spirituality gave him some peace — but he still felt LOST! In 1977 he complained that yoga did nothing for him. Even though he had followed all of the rules and prayers for happiness and tranquility, his heart disease had only gotten worse. He died at the young age of 54 and so passed into eternity.

Let us always turn to the Word of God. “As it is appointed unto men ONCE to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). In no way does the Bible teach reincarnation — it is Satan’s lie. The Bible is clear in condemning witchcraft, spiritualists, witches, wizards and those who observe times (astrologers). “There shall not be found among you ... that useth divination, [or] an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12). When Satan wanted Jesus to fall down and worship him, Jesus said, “Get thee behind Me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve” (Luke 4:8). In spite of his NDE, Peter Sellers spent a lifetime of “ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7). “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12).

Elizabeth Taylor described seeing the spirit of her third husband after passing through a tunnel towards a brilliant white light. When Oprah Winfrey interviewed her, she stated that the experience caused her to have no fear of dying.

Is it possible to be deceived by an experience like these people had? Yes, absolutely! God warns us in 2 Corinthians 11:14: “No marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” No matter how dazzling and beautiful, no matter how warm, cozy and safe the feelings that you may have, unless you come to God His way, you are doomed for eternity! Don’t be deceived into thinking that you can pass over into the “Other Side” and then come back — it is appointed unto man “once to die.” Death is final!

Who Will You Trust?

Whose word are you going to trust? God’s Word, the Bible, tells us that Jesus said, “Thy Word is truth” (John 17:17). The Bible tells us that there is only one way to be saved, and that is by “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). We cannot enter into God’s holy presence clothed in the filthy rags of good works, good intentions or even with the most pure and holiest of thoughts. Tell God that you are a sinner and ask Him to forgive you. He sent His Son to bleed and die on Calvary’s cross for you. Jesus said, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37).

Faith in Christ will save me;

Trust in Him, the risen One,

Trust the work that He has done;

To His arms I now may run;

Faith in Christ will save me.

From the Cross, Uplifted High

From the cross, uplifted high,
Where the Savior deigned to die,
What melodious sounds we hear,
Bursting on the ravished ear:
Love’s redeeming work is done:
Come and welcome! Sinner, come!

Sprinkled now with blood the throne:
Why beneath your burdens groan?
On My pierced body laid,
Justice owns the ransom paid:
Bow the knee, and kiss the Son —
Come, and welcome! Sinner, come!

A Silent Killer in the Workspace

It’s not normally healthy to be suspicious of others, or to question something that might be slightly unusual. But in this case, it saved a man’s life, and possibly many more lives besides.

A German worker at a metal fittings company happened to notice a strange white powder sprinkled on his lunch. Thinking quickly, he notified his superiors of the incident, and even more wisely, he didn’t eat the lunch. And it’s a good thing he didn’t! Testing revealed the strange white powder to be lead acetate, a highly toxic, almost tasteless substance.

Who would have poisoned his lunch? When management had initially watched surveillance video, they were surprised to see one of his coworkers sprinkling the powder on his meal. At first, they thought it was an ill-advised prank, but when the test results came in, they realized that it was attempted murder. A man only identified as Klaus O, who had worked at the company for 38 years, was arrested.

Scary Discovery

Then they began to think ... since the year 2000, 21 employees had died, many from cancer and heart attacks. Not only that, two more employees were seriously ill, one in a coma for two years and another on dialysis. One of the known effects of lead poisoning is organ failure. In fact, the local police were quoted as saying that the powder had enough lead acetate “in amounts that would have been sufficient to cause serious organ damage.”

When police searched the employee’s home, they found ingredients for making poison, including mercury, lead and cadmium. Now, a 15-member homicide squad is deciding whether they should exhume other bodies as part of the investigation.

What kind of employee was this 56-year-old suspect? Another employee who worked with him for 30 years said, “He always stayed by himself, did not speak and had no friends.” Tilo Blechinger, the manager, stated that the suspect was “conspicuously inconspicuous.”

Imagine that! Someone who just came to work day after day and just did his job without causing any stir or drawing any attention to himself. A quiet person. A loner. The one who you would never suspect! And yet, as the years went by, people were dying all around him, now it seems, slowly being poisoned to death by heavy metals. What an absolute tragedy!

The Bigger Tragedy

There is a tragedy of an even greater scale going on today. It is a tragedy that has been going on through the annals of time, down through the many centuries. People are being spiritually poisoned to death, and just like the factory employees above, they don’t even realize it. Jesus describes it this way: “The cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful” (Mark 4:19).

What exactly does this mean? “The cares of this world” describes those who are so busy with daily living that their lives are a whirlwind of activity — so busy that they don’t have time to think or even consider their soul’s destiny. Then there is the “deceitfulness of riches” — this describes those who are driven to make as much money as they can, thinking that this will give them happiness and peace. The “lusts of other things entering in” — this is the consuming desire for anything the world around can give us — whether it be material possessions, a position of prominence in our community or church, political power, fame, or the love of pleasure and a “good time.” This also includes false beliefs in religious goodness — thinking that following a formula as to how to please God will be good enough for Him to let you into heaven. All of these things will poison your mind and heart about being made right with God and will send you to a lost eternity forever. Jesus will then have to say to you, “I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:23).

Unpoisoned Truth

The unpoisoned truth as to salvation and your soul’s eternal well-being is this: We have all sinned and are unfit for the presence of a righteous and holy God. “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). God saw our hopeless condition and sent His Son, the Lord Jesus, to bleed and die on Calvary’s cross for our sins, and to redeem us to God. “When we were yet without strength ... Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6). “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). Now the work of redemption is complete; there is nothing we can do to add to it — we just have to accept it and believe it in our heart. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9). Why not receive God’s gift of salvation today, and then go and tell others what great things He has done for you!

There are many more clever attempts to deceive that are being exposed, including fascinating ones detailed in Caught in the Act of Smuggling.

Caught in the Act of Smuggling

This particular lady was flying from Thailand to Iran. But security agents noticed that she was acting nervous and that her suitcase was oversized. They then decided to X-ray her checked bag. At first, they only saw stuffed toys, but then they saw what looked like it might be a real tiger. Opening the bag, they were quite startled to see a 2-month-old tiger cub that had been drugged!

The tiger was exhausted, weak and dehydrated, and it could not even stand up. It was promptly sent to a wildlife conservation center in Bangkok, where it could be cared for and brought back to health. The 31-year-old woman was arrested, slapped with a heavy fine, and will most likely face years of jail time.

Smuggling animals can be highly profitable, making it a real temptation to the greedy. In Iran, exotic pets are popular. The baby cub tiger could have fetched $3,200 on the black market. Obviously, this woman thought that it would be easy to hide a tiger in her suitcase, and she lost her freedom over it.

Many people believe that it will be easy to get into heaven, and they do not fear the judgment of God. But this is just one of Satan’s many deceptions. They feel that somehow God will overlook their sins. They think that they can live their lives as they please, not realizing that we must all stand in front of God and be judged as individuals. It won’t matter then what anyone else did or what anyone else thinks — only what we did and what God thinks about it. “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). Right now is the time to think seriously about these things. After we die, it will be too late! “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).

Fueled by Greed

A man arriving in Mexico City was detained after it was discovered that he was hiding 18 Titi monkeys under his clothing. These six-inch-long monkeys are on the endangered list, and Mr. Cobrera did not have a legal permit to bring them into the country. He had hidden them in socks and tied them to a girdle which he then wrapped around his waist. Unfortunately, two of the little monkeys had died by the time they were discovered.

Mr. Cobrera told authorities that he had originally put the monkeys in his suitcase when he flew from Lima, Peru, to Mexico City. When he got to the airport, he stuffed them in socks and put them under his clothes “to protect them from X-rays” while going through customs. He had paid $30 apiece for them. Apparently, they can go for as much as $1,000 each on the wildlife black market.

Mark Day, a customs official, stated, “Wildlife smuggling is a global, multi-billion-dollar business, estimated by Interpol at $6-8 billion annually and second only to the global drug trade.” He went on to make the telling observation, “Like the drug trade, the trade in endangered species is fueled by greed.”

Consequences

There are very good reasons why there are laws against smuggling exotic animals and endangered species. The Department of Agriculture has valid concerns about what these animals might be carrying on them. It is believed that birds smuggled into California were the carriers of the Newcastle virus, which became an epidemic and caused the deaths of millions of birds and poultry in the 1970s. Deadly diseases such as SARS and monkey pox have been transferred from animals to people.

As stated above, the consequences of sin are serious. Not only does God tell us that we will be judged for our sins, but He also tells us what that judgment will be. “The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8). “But I’m not that bad! I haven’t committed murder, adultery or any other wicked deed!” Maybe not. But the verse starts off with the “fearful” — many people do not come to faith in Christ because of what their friends or family will think. Hell will be full of such people. Next on the list is the “unbelieving,” which describes every person in hell. Do not let greed, ambition, a cynical attitude or any other thing keep you from accepting God’s free gift of salvation.

What, then, does God want from us? The Bible tells us that we need to have “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). Repentance means to acknowledge that God is right as to our sinful state before Him, and we deserve His righteous judgment. When we truly get into the presence of God, who is holy and pure, we realize a little how awful we really are. Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ means that we believe in our hearts that God’s Son, the Lord Jesus, died and bled on Calvary’s cross for our sins. There needs to be repentance AND faith. This is the true gospel. When we believe it in our hearts, we have eternal life! “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Deception isn’t only due to hate or greed. Pursuing pleasure can lead to the high levels of deceit detailed in The Faraday Cage.

The Faraday Cage

An electrician from Perth, Australia, would clock into work — and then leave to play golf for several hours before clocking out again. This went on for two years before he was finally caught. An anonymous tip to his company finally ended his golfing spree. The letter stated that he had been golfing for at least 140 times when he should have been at work. In one month, he reportedly went on a real golfing binge, golfing for at least 21 days during the month of April! At 60 years of age, he was promptly fired from the job that he had held for the previous 20 years.

How did he manage to escape detection for so long? As with all employees, he had been issued a personal digital assistant, or PDA, which is a fancy phone-like device, where you keep track of job assignments and completed tasks. It also has a GPS function to track your whereabouts. He simply sealed his PDA in a foil-lined Twisties bag (a cheese-based snack that is popular in Australia), which blocked the GPS signal from being received by his employers. Somehow, he was able to update his job assignments as if they were completed. Incredibly, his absence from work was not noticed for two years!

Mr. Colella had used the foil-lined Twisties bag as a Faraday cage. In 1836, a gifted English scientist named Michael Faraday noticed that a continuous metal covering blocked electromagnetic fields from whatever was inside. A plane acts as a Faraday cage. When it is struck by lightning, the lightning slides along the metal surface, leaving those inside unharmed.

Excuses

At first, Mr. Colella tried to say that his PDA had a glitch. But Australia’s Fair Work Commission, a workplace tribunal, disagreed. “I can find no plausible explanation why Mr. Colella would create a Faraday cage around his PDA, except to obstruct the GPS collecting capacity of the device,” said Bernie Riordan, one of the commission members. Yahoo News Australia further reports that the tribunal agreed with the firm’s firing of Mr. Colella, stating that he had been “deliberate in trying to hide his whereabouts and deceive his employer.”

The Faraday cage was not the only evidence against Mr. Colella. The tribunal also consulted records from the golf club and records from an electronic gate which showed that he had not entered a workplace as required. Not only had he stolen time and money from his employers, but he had also deceived and lied to them. Therefore, his firing was totally just.

Reckoning Day

One day, we must all stand before God to give an account for ourselves. There will be no secrets in God’s holy presence. He knows our thoughts, everything that we have ever done, and every word that has come out of our mouths. “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest [known] in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:13). Knowing our sinful state before God, that “there is none that doeth good, no not one” (Romans 3:12), God has made a way of salvation for lost souls. He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus, to die on Calvary’s cross for our sins. Yield your heart to God, confessing your sinful state before Him, asking for His forgiveness. He will forgive you, immediately. “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Having received forgiveness for our sins and being made right with God, we are clothed in garments of salvation. It is like being in God’s Faraday cage! We are forever saved from the wrath of a sin-hating God. When we come to God in faith, trusting Him for our soul’s salvation, He promises us eternal life. “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand” (John 10:28). Why not trust Him today and ask Him to help you to live for Him? He is able to help you to live in a way that is pleasing and honoring to Him. You will never regret trusting Him!