“Fire, fire!” The words rang out as a man ran through an apartment house where he had seen a fire. All the people were brought out safely except one family whose apartment was on the top floor. Somehow they had been overlooked. Now the flames were raging all around them, but the people were asleep.
Down on the street men picked up stones and threw them at the topmost windows and succeeded in breaking them. This roused the father and mother and immediately they took their little boy and girl in their arms and rushed out from the flaming building.
But where was Willie? In the excitement they forgot to warn their eldest son. He was still there, and the father ran back to get him. Smoke blinded and choked him and he got no further than the first flight of stairs.
By this time Willie had wakened from his sleep, and realizing the danger he stood at the window calling for help. Now not a moment must be lost. A ladder was put up but it was not long enough to reach that high window.
Then someone brought a sheet and the father stretched it out. Strong and willing hands grasped the four corners of it as they stood beneath the window.
“Jump, and your father will catch you,” one of the men shouted.
Willie looked down and quivered with fear for a moment. Then he dropped down and in a moment he was safe in his father’s arms. Willie trusted his father and he was safe.
It is just the same for lost and guilty sinners. God’s judgment will reach you if you remain as you are, with your sins upon you. But you need not perish. Trust yourself to Jesus, the mighty Saviour. His outstretched arms are ready to receive you. The only question is, are you ready now to trust yourself to Him?
ML-01/06/1980