Recently the newspaper carried the story of a famous acrobat and tightrope walker whose long career came to a sudden end when he plunged to his death during a performance in Puerto Rico.
Tightrope walking and other acrobatic stunts have long dazzled crowds, a few individuals having a sense of balance and daring beyond that of their fellowmen.
It was in Shrewsbury in 1739 (known then as the old market town of Salop) that handbills in shop windows advertised that “The Famous Robert Cadman would on February 2nd, fly up and down, firing two pistols and acting seral diverting Tricks and Trades upon the Rope, which would be very diverting to the spectators.”
In spite of the bitter cold thousands of spectators, well bundled up, gathered to watch the remarkable act of the man who intended to “fly.”
A rope had been fastened to a top window of St. Mary’s Church, just a few feet from the spire, and brought down to the Gay Meadow a quarter of a mile away across the Severn River. Previously, Cadman had been employed to remove the weather vane from the top of the spire and had replaced it successfully.
A roar went up from the crowd as Cadman took his position on the rope high above them. With his arms spread out like wings, he appeared like a mighty bird gliding to its eyrie. But suddenly gasps of horror arose from the crowd. A crack like a pistol shot rang out through the frosty air—but no pistol had been fired—the rope had snapped!
Horrified spectators watched as Cadman’s body somersaulted to the ground and lay still. The proud acrobat had taken his last “flight.” Never again would he thrill the crowd with his exploits.
Poor Cadman had trusted his life to a faulty rope. He had put his confidence in something that failed him. Money and applause seem to have been his object in life. It does not appear that he was a man of faith, or had ever trusted in the Lord for his salvation.
How many there are today—young as well as old—who likewise have never trusted the Lord Jesus as their Saviour. Perhaps they want to go to heaven someday, but they want to enjoy the world and its pleasures first. If they have any interest in things beyond this life, so many are putting their confidence in something other than Christ. “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:1212There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12).
Christ is the Way of salvation—the only Way (John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)), and no one who puts his trust in Him shall ever be disappointed. He will not fail—He cannot fail—a trusting heart.
ML-01/07/1979