The shrill siren on the fire engine broke up our ball game as the truck raced down the street. Then we noticed the billows of smoke coming from a building several blocks away. We jumped on our bikes and chased after the trucks.
As we came to the block, we could see that it was the small community hospital which was burning. Flames were shooting up from the center of the three-story building. As we arrived we could see the hospital staff taking some of the patients out of the building. The firemen were raising their ladders to rescue patients who were standing at the third-floor windows in the front of the hospital.
Suddenly we heard shouts from the back of the hospital. Four men were trapped in a room on the third floor. The room was on fire and they were yelling for help! All of the ladders were already in use. The fire was spreading, and something had to be done quickly if the men were to be saved.
A group of eight firemen brought a large, round net which they stretched out under the window. They braced themselves and called to the men, “Jump out one at a time! We’ll catch you!”
Three of the men jumped out safely into the net. The fourth man paused, looked down at the net and cried, “I can’t jump! Isn’t there any other way?”
The firemen yelled, “The ladders are all being used in the front of the building. There is no other escape. The net is safe! Jump out! We’ll catch you!”
The man would not jump. He was afraid to trust himself to the net and to the strong arms and backs of the firemen. He turned back into the burning building and disappeared in the smoke. Some hours later he was found dead in the burned-out building. He refused to take the only way of escape. Do you understand that you, like the man in the burning building, are in danger of death and the punishment for your sins? A way of escape has been made for you. There isn’t much time and the danger is very near. You must put yourself completely into the saving hands of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the safe and only way. “There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6. The Lord Jesus Christ died upon the cross. He paid the ransom for you and now is waiting for you to take Him as your Saviour. Jump into His outstretched arms today. He can and will save you now.
ML-01/12/1986