“I wonder why it’s so quiet,” thought Walt Yates as he seemed to waken suddenly from a fitful sleep. “I know, it has stopped raining,” he said out loud to himself.
For the first time since his helicopter had crashed in the wilderness of British Columbia, the rain had stopped. Later that afternoon the sun was shining through the canopy of the black spruce forest.
It had been seven days since mechanical problems with his helicopter had forced him down on a trip from Fort Nelson, B. C. to his home in Texas. Now, perhaps, the search planes who knew his planned course could start looking for him.
The seven days had been very difficult. In terrible pain from broken ribs, he had struggled to construct a shelter from the burned-out wreckage. He had also found a small amount of food and a bucket which he could use to catch rain water.
Walt knew that his rescue would be difficult. The helicopter’s rotors had cut a hole straight down through the 40 feet of dense growth. The search pilot would have to fly directly over the spot to see the wreckage. “I must be prepared to signal,” Walt thought. “It’s the only way they’ll see me.”
Walt recognized how serious and dangerous his condition was. He was lost in a vast wilderness with only the bare necessities for survival. He was injured, and even if he weren’t, the marsh under the trees would not allow him to hike out. He knew he was hopelessly lost and would die if he were not rescued soon.
If you have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you are hopelessly lost in your sins. According to the Bible, God’s Word, each of us is a sinner. “All have sinned.” Romans 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23). It also says in that same chapter in Romans, “There is none righteous, no, not one” (vs. 10) and, “there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” (vs. 12)
This describes the condition of each person. It describes you if you cannot truthfully say, “Jesus Christ is my Saviour.” You are trapped in the wilderness of sin with no hope of getting out by yourself. What you need is someone to help you. That person is the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Lord Jesus knew that He was the only one who could save sinners. He said while on earth that “no man cometh unto the Father [God], but by Me.” John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6). He knew what had to be done to rescue us, and His love caused Him to come to this sinful world. He went to the cross, and there was punished for the sins of all who would accept Him. He did it all! There is nothing left for us to do except to turn to Him and say, “Lord Jesus, save me.” Have you done this? Have you realized just how much you need to be saved and turned to the only Saviour of sinners? “I, even I, am the Lord; and beside Me there is no saviour.” Isaiah 43:1111I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour. (Isaiah 43:11).
Walt had a few matches in his coat that he used to keep a fire going for warmth. He knew that if he could get enough smoke from his fire, it would help attract the search planes. He searched for moss and green limbs that could be quickly added to the fire to get it to smoke. Later in the day, hearing a plane, he mounded his fire to produce smoke. But the wind played a cruel trick. When the smoke reached treetop level the wind currents blew it back down! The planes flew by four times, but did not see the smoke nor the wreckage.
This will not happen when a sinner turns to the Saviour. The searchers for Walt in the plane were only men. They can only see with their eyes. The smoke could not be seen, so Walt was not rescued. But the Lord Jesus is not only a man, He is God. And as God He can see exactly where we are and knows everything about us. It was said of Him, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear.” Isaiah 59:11Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: (Isaiah 59:1). Turn to the Saviour right now and confess that you are a sinner and accept Him as your Saviour. “He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” John 11:2525Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: (John 11:25).
Six more days of rain and fog kept the search planes on the ground. During that time Walt lived on wild berries and water. He also prayed that the rain would stop. He knew that time was getting short. He could not last much longer. He needed to be rescued quickly.
Fourteen days after the crash he heard a plane. He looked up and saw the aircraft pass directly over him. It circled and came back. Walt waved his arms — there was no time to work on the fire. “I’m alive!” he shouted. “Don’t go away!” The plane dipped its wings, a signal that the crew had seen him. Tears of relief streamed down his face as he kept shouting, “I’m saved! I’m saved!” As the aircraft continued to circle while radioing for a helicopter, Walt lay back and rested.
Fifteen minutes later a large yellow rescue helicopter hovered over him. Two rescue workers were lowered on a cable. These members of the Search and Rescue Squad strapped Walt securely in a basket and lifted him into the helicopter. “You’re okay now,” said one. Walt hugged him and hoarsely said, “Thank you! You saved my life!”
ML-09/22/1985