Every winter the Rideau River near our house freezes all the way across. The ice is often a foot thick and strong enough that a truck can drive over it. This thick ice often causes problems in the spring. If there is a warm rain and the snow melts quickly, the water flows overtop the ice as well as underneath. This sometimes causes flooding in the homes that are near the river. The city workmen often have to blast the ice with dynamite so that it will break into pieces and float down the river.
Several years ago these workers were out in boats. The water was about two feet deep on top of the foot-thick ice. One worker placed dynamite in a hole in the ice and quickly moved his boat away. Somehow his boat overturned and the poor man ended up in the icy water!
The man climbed on top of the upside down boat which was being carried swiftly down the river towards the Rideau Falls.
Another workman saw the poor man’s dangerous situation and quickly phoned the fire department.
The fire department raced to a bridge that crossed the river just above the falls. They quickly lowered a rope for the man to grab as he passed underneath.
Sad to say, the man did not grab the rope, and just before the boat went over the rushing falls, the firemen holding the rope heard the poor man cry out, “I’m frozen to the boat!”
It was too late by the time the firemen learned that the man’s hands were frozen to the boat. The poor man could not help himself even a little. If only the firemen had lowered a man on the rope to grab him, before it was too late!
Boys and girls, if you have never had your sins washed away in the precious blood of Christ, then you also are in great danger, moving swiftly toward judgment. The Bible says, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27). The poor man whose hands were frozen to the boat could not help himself, and in a similar way you, too, are “frozen” with the chains of sin, and no attempt of your own to “do your best” or “try harder” will help to take those sins away.
It was too late when the firemen realized that what the man needed was not a rope, but a person. But the good news of this little paper is that there is a Person who is able and willing to save you from the awful judgment your sins will bring. That Person is God’s own Son, the Lord Jesus. He came into the world and went to the cross of Calvary to suffer and die for the sins of any who would believe on Him. He rose from the dead the third day, and now the Saviour we are telling you about is alive again and in heaven. “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:3,43For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthians 15:3‑4).
There was no one to save the man from the falls, but the Lord Jesus, as the loving Saviour, is ready, willing and able to save you from the judgment that is coming upon this world. Call to Him today! “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:1313For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13).
ML-06/04/1989