The bus driver had gotten out of bed early that morning ... he didn’t want to be late for work. It was a cold morning, snowing and very slippery in places. As a bus driver, Scott Griffiths had gotten to know most of the passengers who rode his bus regularly, and he always tried his best to pick them up on time and get them to their destination on time. Today’s weather would make it a little more difficult.
At his third stop, a passenger getting on the bus said to Scott, “A car just slid down the ravine on the other side of the road. It will probably end up in the creek at the bottom!”
Immediately Scott called his dispatcher to send help. Then he drove his bus over to where the car was last seen sliding down the ravine. What he saw was not good. The car had flipped over and was now upside down in three and a half feet of icy cold water at the bottom.
Without thinking of his own safety, Scott got out of the bus and slid down the side of the ravine to where the car was in the creek. There was snow and ice on the ground, making it very difficult to find firm footing. But Scott’s heart and mind was on the person or persons who were in the car and needed his help.
Can any of you boys or girls think of somebody in the Bible whom this story reminds you of? Some of you might think of the story of the good Samaritan. That’s a good one, but there was Someone who did so much more and who was far more loving and kind than even the good Samaritan. It’s the Lord Jesus Christ. When He saw you and me totally ruined and helpless in our sins, He left heaven and came down here for one purpose—to rescue us. The Bible tells us in 1 Timothy 1:15, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” And He paid a terrible price to be able to save us. He gave up His life on the cross after He paid the penalty for the sins of each person who would accept Him as his or her very own Saviour. That’s how much He truly loves us and cares about us.
The bus driver was very kind and caring and wanted to rescue whoever was inside that upside down car in the icy water. When he reached the car, he saw a woman inside. She was still alive and saw Scott beside the car. She was able to open the car window and tried to crawl out. Scott pulled her through the window and then out of the icy, cold water to safety. He immediately put his coat around her to shield her from the bitter cold.
At this point, the paramedics and police arrived and took over. Scott’s job was finished, so he climbed back up the slippery ravine. As he got into his nice warm bus and dried himself off, the passengers all clapped and cheered, as they had watched his heroic deed from the bus windows. Then he slid into the driver’s seat and continued driving his route to deliver his passengers.
Scott was considered a hero for rescuing that woman from her upside down car. But when we think of what Jesus did to rescue sinners from eternal punishment for their sins, He isn’t considered a hero. Many people insist they are good and will get to heaven their own way—they don’t need Him. They pass up His kind and loving offer of mercy and choose to ignore Him. The Bible warns us that there is only one way to be sure of getting to heaven, and it is “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us” (Titus 3:5).
The woman in the car was grateful and thankful for Scott’s kind help, and she had a police officer pass on the message to Scott. What about each of you boys and girls? Have you accepted Jesus’ loving offer of rescue from your sins? Have you thanked Him for what He did for you on the cross?
MEMORY VERSE: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.” Titus 3:5
ML-03/16/2008