The British Isles present to the tourist and general traveling public many interesting sights, some of which are quite ancient. Old castles, historically interesting and architecturally beautiful, remain intact; and even those in ruins bring back to the awakened memories of savant and sight-seer alike thrilling stories read in childhood of murdered princes and rescued maidens.
At Newscastle-on-Tine one's thoughts are stirred especially by two marvels of man's construction ... the old castle built by Henry 2, in the year 1177, and the high-level bridge which was commenced in 1846 and opened to traffic ten years later. To my boyish mind the bridge was the greater wonder, containing as it did a roadway for public traffic and—most marvelous!—an overhead railway track 112 feet above the river. Designed by Robert Stephenson and built at the then tremendous cost of nearly half a million, it, rather than the old castle, was to my young mind the pride of "canny Newcastle.”
I remember well a workman identified in my mind with the building of this bridge. Indeed, the nickname by which he was best known was derived from that very structure. With other lads, I sometimes followed him, calling out, sometimes in derision, sometimes admiringly: "High-level Jack, with a chapel on his back!”
In 1848, Jack had been working on the upper portion of the bridge, high above the dark waters flowing beneath it. Suddenly the plank of the scaffold on which he stood slipped. Horrified and helpless, his fellow-workmen watched him fall. Surely, they thought, that was the last of Jack—he would be dashed to death.
But God had his eye on the poor, hapless fellow who seemed destined so soon to stand before Him. Just below the treacherous plank, on the lower part of the scaffolding, a huge nail projected. As Jack's thrashing body hurtled down, the heavy moleskin trousers which he wore were caught on this nail. There Jack hung suspended in mid-air between sky and water, between life and death. In those first awful moments when death seemed imminent, the frightened man was thoroughly awakened to the realities of eternity. But his concern was not for the physical death that seemed so sure, but rather for the eternal death now facing his poor lost soul. In his agony he cried aloud: "Save, Lord, or I perish!”
Did God hear the cry of this penitent, desperate creature? He who delights to show mercy had surely prepared the way of escape for this sin-burdened one. He has said: "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matt. 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28).
The nail was strong and firmly embedded in the structure. The cloth was good, and it held till his mates could lower ropes and reach their almost hopeless fellow-workman. High-level Jack, weary and aching throughout his wrenched body, with a heart overflowing with gratitude to Him who is "able to save to the uttermost," stood again on the river bank. There, a sinner saved by grace, he dedicated himself to the spreading of the good news of salvation.
Henceforth he traveled through the country carrying with him quantities of Bibles and gospel tracts. His fame as High-level Jack was spread abroad by his thrilling experience, and his constant load of gospel literature suggested the thought of "the chapel on his back." God was pleased to use His recovered one to turn many "from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God.”
Reader, you may never fall physically on this earth; but if you are not "born again," and come to stand unsaved before the great white throne, you will be among those of whom it shall be true: "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." Rev. 20:1515And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15). Awful descent with nothing to intercept—no hope of a return!
Now you have a choice. In that fateful moment, Jack was brought face to face with "life and death, blessing and cursing" (Deut. 30:1919I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: (Deuteronomy 30:19)). He chose "life eternal"—and so may you. Will you not this moment "choose life," and say with High-level Jack: "Christ for me.”