CHARLES Blondin, the famous French acrobat and the world’s greatest tightrope walker, performed the amazing feat of crossing Niagara on a rope carrying a man on his back.
His first trip he made alone in the year 1859. 100,000 people went nearly frantic as he pranced and ran, turned somersaults, walked backward, sat down, lay down, walked with baskets on his feet and even walked with stilts. When he landed safely on the other shore the great crowd were weak with anxiety for his safety.
The next year he came back to do it again. Special trains were run from Toronto and Buffalo carrying the huge crowd that gathered to witness the breathtaking spectacle. Among them was the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII.
With a 40-pound pole to balance him Blondin darted back and forth across the river like a playful monkey. He walked across pushing a wheelbarrow, he ate his lunch at mid-stream and cooked himself an omelet on a small griddle he carried with him. Finally amid the cheers of the thousands of onlookers he set foot on the American shore.
Then waving his hand in thanks he shouted: “I don’t want to go back to the other side by myself. I want to carry a man on my back. Who will volunteer?”
There were no volunteers. It is said he asked Edward the Prince. Edward didn’t question Blondin’s ability, but he wouldn’t dare take the risk.
At last he asked his manager, Henry Colcord, from Chicago, “Do you believe I can carry you across?”
“Yes,” he replied. “Then will you trust me?” “I will.” “All right. Let’s start.”
With Colcord on his shoulders, piggyback fashion, off they went, Colcord shaking in his boots. Foot by foot and inch by inch they moved along. They reached the center of the river. Below them churned the deep dark swirling waters of death, as if waiting for their prey.
So far all was well. But as they neared the Canadian side one of the guy lines had been severed and the rope was swaying fearfully. Blondin was nearly exhausted. He told Colcord to dismount while he took a rest. Colcord obeyed somehow holding on to Blondin’s hips. The crowd, all tense, held their breath.
“Henry,” said Blondin, “you are now no longer Colcord. You are now Blondin. Be a part of me. If I sway, sway with me. Do not try to balance or it will be the end of us.”
Colcord climbed back. The rope was swaying wildly. Blondin’s teeth were set, for this was his closest call. Then he started to run. How he kept his balance no one could understand. But he made it. At last with Colcord on his back he stepped safely on the Canadian shore, while the crowd went wild with excitement. But that was Blondin’s last trip across the mighty Niagara.
Well, dear friends, Charles Blondin has long gone. “The paths of glory lead but to the grave.” Whether he crossed the deep dark mighty river of death and is landed safe on the heavenly shore eternity alone will reveal. Gone too are his friend, Colcord, and all the great crowd that witnessed his death-defying feat.
One thing is sure, no man, no one of Adam’s race, has crossed the waters of death alone.
But there is One who crossed that deep dark river. Jesus went down under those mighty waters of God’s judgment against man’s sin and gave His life that He might land guilty hell-deserving sinners safe on the peaceful shore. We deserved to die, but He took the sinner’s place in death. And when that fearful judgment against sin had spent itself He rose from the dead the mighty Conqueror of Satan, death and the grave.
Since then He has borne countless thousands of souls who have trusted Him, whom He has redeemed by His precious blood, across the river of death to that peaceful happy shore. He wants to take you over too, dear reader, if you are not saved.
Prince Edward thought Blondin could carry him across Niagara all right but he didn’t have the faith to trust him. Do you believe Jesus can save you? Are you willing to trust yourself to those everlasting arms of love that will never let you go?
May God give you the faith to commit the safe-keeping of your soul to Him who has said, “They shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand.” John 10:28,2928And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. (John 10:28‑29).
ML-01/25/1976