July 9, 1960 was a very warm day. Jim Hunnicut took his two friends, seven-year-old Roger Woodward and his 17-year-old sister Deanne, in a motor boat on the Niagara River. The quiet water five miles upstream of Niagara Falls was perfect for the small boat and its 7 ½ HP outboard motor. The two Woodward children thoroughly enjoyed the river and the boat. They did not like the life vests they had to wear, but they had promised their father that they would wear them all the time.
Jim decided to go downstream just below one of the electric generating plants where the water was also quiet. Although the water appeared calm, Jim had under estimated the strength of the current. When he turned the boat around to head back, he found that he had passed the “point of no return” for his small boat and motor. He quickly discovered that instead of making headway, they were being carried slowly downstream toward the falls. Soon they were in the swirling rapids. Then the motor stopped and the boat capsized, throwing the three of them into the water.
Deanne saw Roger and Jim being swept along in the current ahead. She was a strong swimmer and swam toward the shore of Goat Island where crowds of people had gathered and were watching the horrifying scene. Deanne was only a few feet from shore, but still she was being swept toward the falls. A man on shore climbed over the guard rail and was able to catch her outstretched hand only 15 feet from the 162-foot high falls. Another man helped, and they pulled Deanne to safety.
Meanwhile, Jim had grasped little Roger telling him, “Don’t be scared — I’ll hold you!” But the swirling waters tore them apart and both were swept over the falls and lost from view in the spray and torrents below.
Jim was killed on the rocks at the base of the falls. Roger fell beyond the rocks into the water. Down, down under the water he was driven from the fall, but because of his life vest he came up again fast. Moments later the captain of the excursion boat “Maid of the Mist” saw him and was able to throw a life ring out to him. After three tries the ring went close enough to Roger so he could grab it and he was pulled to safety.
Other than a few bruises, neither Roger nor Deanne had any injuries from their awful experience. They were thankful that they had obeyed their father and worn their life vests. Jim had not worn one.
There is no doubt that what helped save both Roger and Deanne’s lives was their life vests. Those of us who have accepted the Lord Jesus as our own Saviour have another kind of life vest that will keep us safe forever. Even if we die we will rise again some day — when He calls all who have trusted in Him to come live with Him in heaven. We have everlasting life now, and as John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24) says, “He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
On the other hand those who do not have Christ as their Saviour do not have a life vest and will be pulled under the waters of death and judgment because of their sins. Do you have the Life Vest on?...have you accepted Christ as your Saviour? Why wait any longer? “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2).
ML-08/11/1985