While still in high school in Clifton, New Jersey, I worked pumping gas at a station on a six-lane highway. That highway was notorious. Route 3 was a fifteen-mile stretch of concrete with more deaths per mile than any other in the state.
One night I was working alone, as usual. Business was dead; I couldn't figure it out. My view through the large windows allowed me to see the slightest movement in the station, but this night all was quiet.
Suddenly, without any warning, the noise of the highway filled the room, indicating that the door had opened. I had seen no one. My eyes flashed fearfully to the door, armed robbery always in the back of my mind. Highway stations are known for holdups.
My eyes met a figure at the door that sent a chill of death through me such as I had never known before. A man dressed totally in black entered. Black overcoat, black pants, black shoes, black hat all black. But his face and hair were the whitest white I had ever seen. For an instant I thought Death had come to get me!
The man explained that he needed a flat tire changed. His car was safely off the highway in a parking lot ramp, but all the while. I talked to him I couldn't get the feeling of death out of my mind.
A small car came in for gas. I told the old man to wait in the office, and when I finished pumping gas I would drive him around to his car and change the tire. I warned him of the danger of returning to his car on foot. Frankly, I didn't think anyone would risk Route 3's heavy traffic, specially when dressed in black and impossible to see.
I went out to fill the MG Midget Convertible—tiny car, tiny tank. After only six or seven gallons, I looked toward the office... he was gone. Glancing around, I didn't see him anywhere. Then, carefully scanning, I saw him at the edge of the highway right under the exit sign identifying that exit. I yelled to him, but the noise of the cars was too great for him to hear me.
Now the thought of death was more real than before. Looking back up the road I could see steady, solid traffic. Foot-crossing was impossible for anyone. This thought comforted me, as I was sure no one would think to try. An old man in black would have no hope.
As I finished pumping the gas, I heard tires screeching, a loud thud, and the girl in the MG burst into hysterical, uncontrolled screaming.
I looked just in time to see the limp, lifeless body, without the hat, spinning end-over-end 60 feet in the air. A large station wagon had sent this man into eternity.
That was years ago, but the memory of that tragedy is still very clear. Today is a hard day for me; I feel guilty for having waited so long to finish this writing. I hope this reaches you IN TIME.
Think of that man old, white—haired. He couldn't have lived as long as he did and learned nothing. It had taken 80 or so years to get to that Sunoco gas station, but that night he was in a hurry to get to a car he couldn't drive.
Now, think of four points in this story:
1. He was warned of the dangers of the road and offered a ride across in safety. But he had NO TIME to hear.
2. He stood under the sign that told him a safe passage was at hand. Walking slowly, he could have gone down the ramp, under the highway and he would have been on the other side in five minutes maximum. But he had NO TIME to read.
3. He could see the heavy flow of traffic which spelled death. An Olympic sprinter would have turned away from that race. But he had NO TIME to weigh the facts and make a reasonable choice.
4. Like so many today, he was in a big hurry to go nowhere. And when he stepped off that curb, he stepped right into eternity. NOW HE HAS NO TIME AT ALL.
Are you trying to go through to the other side of the highway of death like this man? Are you too busy to listen to warnings? Are you too busy to take the offer of deliverance? Are you too busy to read what your Bible says about Jesus being the ONLY WAY? HAVE YOU NO TIME FOR JESUS?
Don't just take a spare minute and read a verse or two of God's Word without really understanding it. Stop. Take time to see what God is trying to tell you.
Do you realize the significance of the words, "HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON"? Take time to think—Why? Why? Why did God give His only Son?
"God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH"... get that? God doesn't want the "whosoever’s" reading this to perish!
"Should not perish, but HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE." How? By believing He is God's Son and the only acceptable sacrifice for your sins. Receive Him now as your Lord and Savior and you, too, will be able to sing these words:
I do believe, I will believe
That Jesus died for me,
That on the cross He shed His blood
From sin to set ME free!