One October evening in a small town in New Jersey, the temperature dropped to 35°F. Nick Cartino felt how cold it was getting, as he went over the day’s records of his trucking business. He remembered that, once again, he had put off finishing the repair work on his furnace. “It’s going to be cold tight,” he thought to himself. “Maybe I’d better build a fire in the old coal heater.” The Cartinos sometimes used wood or coal in their fireplace heater to help heat the house. He called upstairs to his wife, “Hadn’t I better build a fire in the heater?” His wife agreed. She was tucking two-year-old Marjorie into bed.
The coal fire in the hot-air heater quickly warmed the house. After a while, Nick closed the damper of the heater to just a small opening, and he and his wife went to bed.
By one o’clock, all the lights in town were out except at the police station and at the telephone company. Shirley Hanson, the night operator, was there to handle the few calls that came in requiring an operator’s assistance.
About four o’clock in the morning, a light flashed on her switchboard. “May I help you?” Shirley asked. No one answered.
Shirley knew that an open line at this time of night was usually an emergency call. She listened carefully as she asked again, “May I help you?”
“Operator, I need help!” a man’s voice gasped. “Please call a doctor.” He was able to give his home telephone number, and then the line went dead again.
Shirley quickly looked up the number and found that the call had come from the Cartino’s telephone. She called the police and reported the call: “There’s something wrong at the Cartino residence at 1322 Elmer Street. Medical aid has been requested.”
A police cruiser in the area was notified of the emergency. At the same time, the fire department rescue unit was sent to the Cartino home.
When Officer Ralph Simpson took the emergency call from headquarters, he immediately drove to Elmer Street. As he pulled up in front of the house, he was puzzled at seeing no light in the house. He rang the doorbell, but no one answered. He rang again—still no answer. He put his shoulder against the door and tried to force it open. It wouldn’t budge. Just then, the emergency unit arrived with two paramedics. With three men, they were able to force open the front door.
The first whiff of air from inside the house caused the men to choke. “It’s coal gas!” gasped one of the men. “Get the windows open!”
Another man rushed upstairs, hoping he wasn’t too late. (A person can survive for a short time in a room with leaking gas. But after a while they become unconscious and will soon die.) He turned on the light in the bedroom. Nick Cartino was lying on the floor. Beside him dangled the telephone receiver. His wife was still in bed. Little Marjorie was in her own little bed. Were they too late?
The Cartinos had been overcome with gas from a leaking heater. They knew of the danger that could be caused by coal gas, but they were not careful in adjusting the damper. They did not think that something like this could happen to them.
There are many people today who are going on, day by day, in a very dangerous condition. They are lost sinners on their way to hell, and they are ignoring the danger. The danger of coal gas is that it makes you unconscious before it kills you. Satan has “blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ... should shine unto them.” 2 Corinthians 4:44In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4). Because God loves you so much, He has provided an escape for you now. The Lord Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, died on the cross so that you may be saved. But you must accept His offer of love and mercy to you now. Don’t put it off. Waiting is dangerous!
Was it too late for the Cartinos? The paramedic’s first concern was for Marjorie, who lay so still in her bed. He felt for a pulse in her wrist. It was there; she was still alive! He called to the two others coming up the stairs, “Hurry! Get this child outside fast!” Then he turned to check the parents. Both of them were still breathing. The men rushed them out into the fresh air! They were given oxygen and rushed to the hospital for further treatment. The family soon recovered and could go back home. Rescue had come just in time!
The rescue of the Cartino family was big news in the small town. The police, paramedics and telephone operator were all honored for their quick, life-saving work. However, after a few years the story was forgotten except by the people most concerned. They never forgot.
For those of us who know the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour, do we ever forget what He has done for us? It is sad to say that sometimes we act like we’ve forgotten. When was the last time you thanked Him for saving you? When did you last praise Him for all that He has done for you? Does your life show others what a wonderful Saviour you have? These are important questions to think about, because we forget so quickly. That is why He has asked us to “remember Him” until He comes for us. By remembering the Lord each week, we are reminded of what He has done for us.
ML-06/28/1981