WHEN MINERS dig out the coal deep down in the earth, they leave columns or pillars to support the earth above, lest the ceiling cave in and the miners be crushed to death.
Sometimes though when a coal mine was exhausted, the owner, wishing to get all he could out of it, would take away as many of the pillars as he thought he could do without risking the safety of his men. However, sometimes he would take away too much, and the earth above would eventually sink.
In the little town of Gilberton, a few miles from Shenandoah, a family noticed that their little garden was sinking. Their home was just over a coal mine. In days gone by the owner had taken away so much coal that there was little between the house and the pit below, only a thick crust of earth and coal which might give way at any moment and hurl all that were above it to destruction.
How terrible it would be to be plunged into a deep dark horrible pit! And yet something far worse will happen to those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ and will not have Him as their Saviour. The Bible tells us, “the wicked shall be cast into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” If you do not believe on the Lord Jesus, you are like the family living in that house with nothing between them and sudden destruction — no refuge, no support, no safety.
But what is so strange is that these people had been warned that they were in danger. Yet until they actually saw the garden sinking into the pit they took no heed. And have you not been warned again and again in the gospel? Will you be like these foolish folks who waited until the destruction came before they believed the warning? Well, when they saw the earth sinking, they suddenly became alarmed and snatching up such things as were at hand, they all rushed out of doors and away from the place. Hardly had they gone a few feet away when they saw their house turn right upside down and plunge roof foremost down into the gulf, followed by a great mass of rocks and stones which covered it all up and crushed it to powder. Oh what a narrow escape they had!
Dear young reader, you still have time to escape, “to flee from the wrath to come,” and the way to do so is to go at once to the Lord Jesus, and take refuge under His sheltering blood shed for sinners.
“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.” Rom. 10:99That 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). Then you will be safe with an everlasting salvation through that precious blood which washes away all sin.
ML-02/04/1973