IT WAS Friday afternoon, and Albert Drecker was on duty at the train bridge. He had opened the bridge to allow a boat to pass through, and now he was going to close it, as it was almost time for the New York train to pass by.
His little boy, Peter, came running up to watch him. All at once little Peter slipped and fell down the steep hill into the deep water of the Passaic River. Just at this moment, his father heard the whistle of the train in the distance, and although he could not see it, he knew that he must get that bridge closed at once or there would be a wreck. To save his dear boy’s life would have been an easy matter, but if he stopped to rescue Peter, the train would surely be wrecked with the loss of many lives. What was he to do?
Can you imagine his agony as he saw Peter sinking before his eyes? But Mr. Drecker stood to his post and closed the bridge. The train roared into sight and crossed the bridge, while at the same time Mr. Drecker dived into the water. He soon was able to bring Peter’s body to the shore, but with a breaking heart he found he was too late. Peter was dead!
Doesn’t this make our hearts sad? But what is it to that surpassing scene of love seen at Calvary long ago! God must sacrifice His beloved Son to the cruel death of the cross, in order to offer salvation to poor sinners—men and women, boys and girls.
This was the great question: Shall the people, who have brought just punishment upon themselves on account of their sins, be sent to an everlasting hell, or shall God’s own dear Son bear the judgment for them? Thank God, such was His matchless love that He gave — yes, He sent His own Son into this world to die for guilty hell-deserving sinners, such as ourselves. Albert Drecker did not send his son Peter into the river — he fell in. But “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom. 5:88But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8).
ML-06/13/1971