In the town of Nome, Alaska, many years ago there was a serious outbreak of diphtheria. The only cure for this disease was a special serum, but there was none available in Nome. The closest supply was in the town of Nenama, which was 650 miles away. The only way the serum could be taken to Nome was by dog team.
A relay of dog teams and drivers was quickly organized, and the valuable serum started on its long trip. Each team and driver would travel about 50 miles; then a fresh team and driver would take over.
The relay worked smoothly for most of the trip, with a fresh team and driver ready as the exhausted team arrived. Balto, a Siberian husky, was the lead dog of the team that was taking the serum to the town of Bluff. From Bluff to Nome was the last part of the trip. A fresh team and driver were to be ready at Bluff.
Frank Kasson, the driver, urged Balto and the team onward. The weather was turning bad. It looked like a blizzard was coming.
Five miles before reaching Bluff, the blizzard suddenly blew in with strong winds. The team struggled through to the meting point, only to find that the new team had not arrived. They were coming in from another town and had gotten lost in the blizzard.
Frank didn’t know the trail from Bluff to Nome, but Balto had been over it before. Frank decided to push on, even though the team was very tired. He gave Balto the lead and trusted him to find the way to Nome. Balto never faltered. He stayed on the trail through blinding snow from Bluff to Nome-53 miles in 30 degrees-below-zero weather! The diphtheria outbreak was brought under control.
Today, a monument of Balto stands in Central Park, New York.
Balto was a saviour for the children of Nome who were dying from the serious disease, diphtheria. His courage and strength took the cure to the doctors in time. Sin is a serious disease, too. Each one of us is “dead in trespasses and sins.” Ephesians 2:1. There is only one cure for sin. The Lord Jesus Christ made it available to us, but it cost Him His life. He died on the cross and shed His precious blood for the sins of all those who will put their trust in Him. Just as the serum was the “cure” for the children, so Christ is the only “cure” for the sinner. “In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.” John 1:4.
ML-03/22/1981