Walter Skowron lived in a cabin on higher ground near the Big Thompson River. When the terrible flash flood surged down the canyon on that fateful night of July 31, 1976, Walter and his family were safe in their cabin; but he tells of the horrors of the flood: “The electricity went out at approximately 8:45 p.m. The rain continued. By this time it was a torrential downpour, and we could only see a few feet in front of us.
“We had no idea what was happening — no battery-powered radio. Jerry, a friend, had a CB radio in his ‘Scout,’ so we tried to get news about the storm on the CB emergency band. All we heard were stress and panic calls-calls from people camped along the river. Since CB reception is limited in the mountains, we knew those calling out were close by. ‘I’m trapped in my van with my wife and two children,’ said one. ‘Help us! Oh, ... ' And then, silence. Calls of terror, calls of panic, calls of pain.
“I’ve never been so close to death before—and it’s something you don’t easily forget. I still wake up in the middle of the night and think about what happened. I only pray no one ever has to go through anything like that again.”
Terrible as was that great flood that surged down the Big Thompson Canyon, infinitely more fearful will be the judgment of God against sin, judgment that will sweep over this whole world. Man put to death the Son of God, and this world is stained with His blood. God holds this world guilty for the death of His Son. And yet God in grace, which no one can measure, has used the death of Christ to bring salvation to man. “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 3:1616For 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).
Walter Skowron could only listen in helpless horror to the cries of terror of those caught in the flood. And this reminds us of the impossibility of helping those who wait too long in their sins, who never come to Christ for salvation until it is too late.
In the gospels the Lord has told us of those who are unrepentant, who never turn to Him to receive forgivess of their sins; in the judgment day they will be cast into outer darkness, where there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth.
They will stand before God, the judge of all the earth, unsaved and in their sins in that terrible day.
Walter Skowron and his family were safe on the higher ground. Oh, that more would seek the “higher ground” of God’s salvation in Christ.
“On Christ salvation rests secure,
The rock of ages must endure,
Nor can that faith be overthrown
Which rests upon the Living Stone.
ML-08/21/1977