In the lowlands of Scotland a main railway line crossed a great ravine — a fearful looking abyss so that the viaduct that bridged it was one of the wonders of the North. One night a fearful storm raged over that district. A stream that meandered under the viaduct was turned into a raging torrent.
A young highland shepherd boy sheltered his sheep as best he could for the night. In the morning, long before the dawn, he went out to see how they had fared. As he made his way up the hillside, he saw to his horror that the central column of the bridge had gone. He knew that the mail train was due soon, and if not warned would be wrecked and many lives would be lost. He looked at the raging torrent. He wondered if he could get across. The thought of the danger to so many urged him on. He plunged in, and finally, after being battered against the rocks, breathless and bleeding, he reached the other side. He made his way up the cliff as best he could, wondering if he would be in time. Already he could hear the pound of the mighty engine.
He stood on the track beckoning wildly, but all he saw was the hand of the engineer waving him out of the way. The train came on nearer and nearer; still he stood frantically waving his arms. The train was almost on him now, and he flung himself in front of the engine. There was a screeching as the engineer put on the brakes, and the train came to a stop.
Passengers wakened out of their sleep got out to see what was the matter. “It has been a close shave this time,” said the engineer. “We might all have been lost.”
When they saw how near they were to the ragged edge of the broken bridge, many faces were white with fear.
“Come with me,” said the engineer, “and I’ll show you the one who saved us tonight.” They went back along the track a little way and there they saw the mangled body of the little highland shepherd boy.
“If he had not died for us,” said the engineer, “we might all have perished tonight.”
This story of the little shepherd boy helps us to understand a little of what a sacrifice the Lord Jesus made on the cross for sinners like us. Men and women, boys and girls all of them sinners — rush on their way to eternity, unmindful of the great destruction that awaits them. The cross of our Lord Jesus Christ stands between us and the great abyss of hell. He died that we might be saved. “Christ died for our sins.”
Now in the gospel, He presents Him. self to all as the only Saviour, the only hope of the sinner. Will you take Him as your Saviour, dear reader? How solemn if you should spurn His love, and make light of His death which He suffered for you! Tell me, you will not rush on to hell, will you?
ML 01/29/1967