Some years ago all England was shocked by news of the great Barr Pit mine disaster which buried many miners alive.
Heroic rescue operations succeeded (it was thought) in bringing all the entombed men to the surface; but an official count revealed that six were still missing. These, were evidently still trapped in a part of the pit almost hopelessly blocked by tons of debris.
The massive rescue operations however were immediately resumed, and the tunnel leading to the remote work area at last cleared. At the end of the long passage was a fire door which the rescue crew forced open. But it was too late—all of the six men they had risked life and limb to save were found lying side by side—dead. But in their death there was hope.
The final account of the tragedy, as reported by The Morning Leader, carried a photograph showing the inside of the door where the bodies were found. Inscribed on it was the dead men's last message to the world, printed with white chalk. It read:
WE ARE ALL TRUSTING IN CHRIST
Below these words each of the six victims had signed his name.
All trusting in Christ! What a sure refuge in the hour of danger and death. Trusting in Him we can face death unafraid, confident that the One who died for our sins abides with us all the way home.
Christ Himself has entered death's domain and returned victorious over all the power of hell. The stone rolled away, the empty grave and a risen, glorified Savior are eternal proofs of His glorious victory—the spoils of which He shares with all who trust in Him. Are you trusting in Christ? "Will your anchor hold in the floods of death?”