IN my business days I was a surveyor in South Africa. On one occasion I had to measure across a long narrow ravine from forty to fifty feet deep. I ought to have gone round the safe way, but unhappily decided to climb down, cross over, and climb up the opposite rocky wall.
It seemed easy. The steep descent was not too difficult, and both sides of the ravine seemed alike. I got down without mishap. A tree with dense foliage on the opposite side gave hopes of an easy lift of about ten feet or more. From it I stepped off to the projections on the face of the rock. I found footholds and projections in sufficient number to reach a height about eight feet or so from the top.
But now, to my horror, I found I could not climb any higher, and worst, of all, it was impossible to retreat. Even the attempt to look at my feet threatened an over-balance, and a fatal fall on the rocks below.
My assistants, seeing my danger, ran to the other side to help me, but their utmost stretch of arm failed to reach me. Miles and miles away in wilderness country, and out of reach of available help, my position was one of great peril. One sole and only resource remained—it was to throw myself back, and fall flat upon the tree instead of the rocks.
This was just possible, and I did it. Torn, pierced, and bruised I felt. The springy dense foliage had saved me from serious, if not fatal, injuries. My hurts were insignificant compared with the danger I had escaped.
How I thanked God for that tree. He has made that escape an ever-present memory, because so full of warning and instruction for both the saved and unsaved.
Dear unsaved reader, bear with me if I give you some of the lessons this experience has taught me.
The gulf that separates the sinner from God cannot be crossed by any short-cut of man’s device—be it baptisms, confirmations, sacraments, good works, or pious living, &c. These may seem to make a way to reach heaven, but they will only land you in the ravine of self-righteousness, and make it more than difficult to recover a lost tenderness of conscience, once possessed.
The heavenly height can only be reached through the Lord Jesus, who is “the Way, the Truth, and the life.” To climb up some other way is the unavailing act of the thief and robber. “Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” Heeding, and obeying this word with the heart you will not fail to hear the Lord’s Voice in the Scriptures saying to you, “Come unto Me... I will give you rest.” “Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out.”
Just as I threw myself clear from my high but dangerous position, on to the tree below me, and thus escaped death, so, my dear unsaved reader, cast yourself clear from your self-righteous hopes of reaching heaven, otherwise than by the blood of Jesus Christ, that cleanseth from all sin. The Lord Jesus is the only Saviour, bestowed in grace, to be received, believed in, trusted, and clung to, till safe in the Father’s house.
To fall from your high and dangerous position may be a very bitter and humbling experience—as was mine—and bring you spiritual wounds and bruises, but you will have cause to gratefully thank God throughout eternity, that He led you before it was too late to fall in helpless weakness into the strong and loving arms of the Lord Jesus, ever open to all,
“Weary, working, burdened one,
Wherefore toil you so?
Cease your doing, all was done
Long, long ago.
Till to JESUS’. WORK you cling
By a simple faith,
Doing is a deadly thing,
Doing ends in death.”
May your experience be to―
“Cast your deadly doing down,
Down at Jesus’ feet,
Stand IN HIM, in Him ALONE,
Gloriously COMPLETE.”
H. L. S.