Don't Panic

 •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 7
 
King's Cross Station is a busy place, the busiest station in London. Five subway lines are served there, as well as British Rail trains. Throngs of commuters pass through it daily, the flow of traffic changing direction with the time of day.
It was evening, and Debbie Wren was homeward bound as she rode the escalator up from the subway to take her train. Suddenly her feet seemed to be too warm. She looked down and saw an orange glow under the rising step and caught the smell of smoke. Pushing quickly ahead, she reported her fear to a subway attendant.
The smoke thickened rapidly; the heat increased and people on the escalator began to be alarmed. Many ran back down to the lower platform. A train came through, and did not stop. Another rolled in and out again, also without stopping. Panic stricken by now, people rushed toward it, beating on the closed windows and doors as it went by. One woman even leaped onto the tracks and pursued the train, but without success.
The loud speakers crackled to life the announcement: "Don't panic! It's just a small litter fire."
But the smoke increased and the now-frantic people began trying to fight their way upward again. At last they met a figure of authority: a policeman appeared to take charge. Gratefully they obeyed as he firmly directed them onto the long escalator up to the concourse level. More and more were waved on to the escalator—and rode steadily, inexorably, up and into the flames.
One woman, Judith Dingley, saw what was happening and flung out her arms to stop people boarding the escalator. "People just glared and scowled at me as though I was out of my mind," she said.
The fire raged on until at last the fire fighters had it under control. There were 30 people dead from burns or suffocation, and 21 more seriously injured.
In one sense, humanity today is much like those London commuters. Most of us are hurrying back and forth in our "daily grind," already smelling the smoke of coming disaster—monetary collapse, a nuclear "accident," a deadly new disease, any of the catastrophes that could overwhelm our world but official-sounding voices are proclaiming: "Don't panic! Everything is under control. These are only little problems and technology will soon find solutions."
Don't listen to them!
There are others busily directing, "This way— this way up! Keep striving and struggling until you reach the top!"
Don't listen to them either!
Remember instead Judith Dingley with her arms outspread as she tried to keep people from rushing up the escalator into the fire and think of the Lord Jesus Christ with His arms stretched out to all humanity and calling, "I am the way!"
Yes, Jesus is the Way, the only way to heaven, for as He says, "No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." We cannot achieve eternal life and safety by ignoring the danger of hell; we cannot climb up to the Father's house by any ladder of our own devising. It is only by believing in Jesus, the Son of God, that we are saved from perishing forever.
God is pointing out a way of escape from eternal death: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.
The ones who believed Judith Dingley and did not ride up that escalator lived to tell of their escape. Those who "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ" shall be saved (Acts 16:31). It could not be more sure, or more simple. Turn to Him now.
"As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye... for why will ye die?" Ezek. 33:11.