Harry Morris, at the time this incident happened, was a young man twenty four years old. He had a godly Christian mother, but he himself, though honorable, clever, upright and prosperous, was utterly godless and even sneered at “religion” and those who adhered to it. He was very popular with his fellow workmen and had become the leader of a set among them known as the “Free Thinkers.”
One evening Harry, being an able orator, had made a highly spiced speech vvhich had been received with uproarious applause. In the course of his discourse he had not neglected to give a few side sneers at the churches, the clergy, and religion in general, but on his way out of the building had come face to face with Mr. Elliot, an earnest Christian man whom he had known from boyhood. He could see by the man’s pained expression that his speech had been heard. As Harry tried’ to slip past him, Mr. Elliot laid a daining hand on his arm and said quietly,
“God has given you an eloquent tongue, Morris, and the power of rousing the passions and guiding the feelings of other men. May He forgive the sinful use you are making of it. Perhaps, some day you may be in some terrible danger, CAUGHT IN SOME TRAP, and then you will feel His hand and acknowledge His power—but it may then be too late.”
These words struck a chill upon Harry’s heart, and he slunk home like a beaten dog.
About six months after this, Harry went gaily to work, more pleased with himself than usual, for he was about’ to finish a very important piece of work. It was a large iron safe, intended to be built into the wall of a bank—a safe of immense strength. The locks had been partly designed by Harry and unless one were in the secret, could it be opened even with a key. The bank manager had examined the safe and expressed great satisfaction with the idea. The manager of the factory had the day before highly complimented Harry, and finally put one of the two keys in his pocket (Harry had the other one) remarking as he did so, that no one could rob the bank but himself and Harry. No one else had been allowed to see the working of the locks; but when all was completed that morning, the other workmen crowded in to see the masterpiece.
While they were jostling around Harry got into the safe to see if the hinges worked well, pulling the door slightly toward him. Whether the iense weight of the door caused it to slam, or whether someone accidently pushed against it, is not known, but before Harry could prevent it, the door, shutting with a spring, closed itantly. Harry was caught in his own trap!
No one could open the door but the manager who had the other key. Would the men think of sending for him?
The horror of his position gradually burst upon the imprisoned man. The air in the safe soon became close and heavy, and the awful thought came that he might be suffocated before Mr. Wilson, the manager, came. For some moments he seemed to take leave of his senses. He tore at the door and shouted, only to fall back gasping and, to add to his terror, Mr. Elliot’s words came back to him—“Some day you may be caught in a trap, then you will feel His hand and acknowledge His power, BUT IT MAY THEN BE TOO LATE.”
There alone in the dark, he stood face to face with God—and the hereafter. God had indeed laid His havd on him and him feel that “He IS a God that judgeth in the earth.” Psalm 58:1111So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth. (Psalm 58:11).
The atmosphere in the safe was becoming stifling—a little further delay and help would be too late! But stay! What precious words of sweetness rushed suddenly to his mind, calming his terror for a few moments? “Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and He saveth them out of their distresses.” Psa. 107:1919Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. (Psalm 107:19).
But how could he cry to a God whom he had jeered? He knew NOW for a certainty there WAS a God—a heaven—a hell! He knew he deserved no pity, but like those of old he would cry to Him.
For the first time in years he got on his knees and leaning his aching head against the cold iron, begged Him, if it were not His will for him to live longer, to forgive all the black catalogue of his sins. How wonderful the grace of God that, through what Christ has done on Calvary, He can forgive the vilest sinner! Harry then thought of his dear mother and her grief at his untimely death. Taking a sheet of paper and pencil, he wrote as well as he could— “God bless you, Mother—I have asked God to forgive me.”
A buzzing was now beginning in his head and soon the pain became teible. He finally fell forward unconscious.
The next thing he knew there seemed to be a hum of voices afar off—then a futile struggle to get his breath, a blinding light—a sinking down, and again unconsciousness.
When he next opened his eyes he was in his own room, his mother holding his hand. “Let us thank God, the God that saved you in your fearful trouble, my boy.” He was too weak to speak, but followed his mother as she thanked God, and asked that the life He had given back might be used for Him.
After this he began slowly to amend. One evening when his friends from the factory were gathered around his bed, he told them the whole story of his conversion in the safe, and that in the future his life was God’s and that he hoped to spend it trying to undo the harm he had done. As the men listened, a quiet hush stole over them, and one young fellow said, “Morris, you have come out of the very jaws of hell, but you have found in that safe that there is a God who hears and answers prayer. I, for one, will trust Him and His Book from this time on, and I hope you men will do the same.”
Will you not do so as well, dear reader? These are days of sudden and awful deaths— “traps” abound everhere—on the highways, at home, abroad.
ML 09/23/1951