He Died to Save Others

From: Messages of God's Love: 1977

Narrator: Chris Genthree

Duration: 2min

• 2 min. read • grade level: 4

Colorado state patrolman, Hugh Purdy, lost his life trying to save others during the Big Thompson flash flood.

Hugh was in the canyon when the flooding started and felt a need to find out just where and how bad the flood crest was. He told headquarters: “It [the water] will be coming down here. I’ll try to pick it up as I go up—see if I can find out where it is.”

As Hugh worked his way up-river, the tidal wave was coming down rapidly toward him. His last radio message was, “I’m stuck. I’m right in the middle of it. I can’t get out about half mile east of Drake on the highway. Tell the cars to get out of that low area down below. As soon as the water starts picking up... (static).” The flood had caught him. His body was found eight miles downstream. His car was pounded into an unrecognizable mass.

Hugh wanted to save others and lost his life doing so. But how infinitely more wonderful the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ who died on the cross to save us! “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree.” (1 Pet. 2:24²⁴Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24).) He is the alone worthy One, and the redeemed shall sing His praise throughout eternity.

Those in the “low area” below Hugh make us think of ourselves in our sins. If we are unsaved, we are in a “low area,” and we need to “get out.” The Lord warns us even now from heaven to “flee from the wrath to come.” (Matt. 3:7⁷But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (Matthew 3:7).)

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,” (1 Tim. 1:15¹⁵This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)), and “How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation.” (Heb. 2:3³How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:3).)

“O safe to the Rock that is higher than I,

My soul in its conflicts and sorrows would fly:

So sinful, so weary, Thine, Thine would I be;

Thou blest Rock of ages, I’m hiding in Thee.

ML-07/10/1977

Click here to show subject links in the text for more information.