IT WAS back in the early days of the railroads, when the old-fashioned trains did not have automatic controls like the modern locomotives. There was an open coal car and the engine had a high chimney which often shot out a great shower of sparks. On this particular evening the cars were crowded with passengers. They became aware of an unusual smell of smoke and as they entered “Bergen Cut” there was a strange glare which lit up each carriage. Then the frightening cry was raised, “The train’s on fire!”
Looking out the windows, they could see Joe Sieg the engineer ahead in the smoke. Another glimpse, and then he seemed to be swallowed up in a burst of flame. The train was roaring down the cut.
“Who will stop the train?” was the cry. “He’ll never do it. We are lost.”
But even as they spoke, the speed of the train began to slacken. Slow-
er and slower it ran and finally it stopped. The passengers leaped from their cars.
“Where’s Joe Sieg?” some asked. “Is he still alive?”
There lay the brave engineer on the burning tender; he was almost gone. A few more tortured moments and then Joe Sieg died. The passengers were saved.
They never forgot the brave engineer who stayed at his post and stopped the train at the cost of his life. He might have leaped to safety but he chose to die that others might live.
And how could we forget our Saviour, the blessed Lord Jesus Christ, who died that we might live? He was not one of the perishing multitudes. He was “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners” (Heb. 7:2626For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; (Hebrews 7:26)); so death could not touch Him. However, He died that we might live. Surely we ought to show our gratitude for what He has done by trusting Him as our Saviour, and then seeking to live for and honor Him the rest of our lives.
“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if One died for all, then were all dead: and that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again.” 2 Cor. 5:14,1514For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. (2 Corinthians 5:14‑15).
No need now to labor, the work has been done;
To be in God’s favor, believe on the Son.
ML-05/30/1976