SO said poor Davis in his delirium, the reckless driver of the Royal Blue Line flyer, as he lay a-dying. But it was an awful accident nevertheless, the most serious disaster on the Central Railroad of New Jersey during the last quarter of a century; an accident which resulted in 112 “killed and injured.”
The express was flying along at a speed of sixty-five miles an hour, little heeding the fact that a disabled train was blocking the line ahead. Every precaution had been taken by the company to avoid accidents. A special system of block-signals was in use, which worked well, both before and after the awful disaster. The night was clear and the driver could see two miles ahead; the track, too, was as straight as a line for a distance of eight miles. An approaching engine-driver would see a green light, if the line were occupied, three-quarters of a mile before the main danger signal, which shows red.
All was in working order, and yet utterly regardless of the warning signal the express dashed past the red light and in a few minutes ploughed into the rear of the stationary train, telescoping three coaches and scattering death and destruction all around:
The victims were of “moderate means,” we are told. This may be true so far as earthly possessions are concerned, but can any words convey the priceless value of their never-dying souls? In one instant of time hurled into eternity, and passing from the presence of one another into the very presence of God. The suddenness of this is terrible to contemplate. I fancy the reader says, “I hope such a sudden end may not be mine—I should like time to prepare.”
But, friend, whoever you may be, rich or poor, your end must come, and it may be just as suddenly. Riches will not buy off the King of Terrors, or procure for you one moment of time. Is not this one more of the countless warnings sent to each one of us by a kind and merciful God? Does it not sound afresh in the ear, and deep into the innermost soul of the reader—Be ready, yes, be ready?
To be getting ready will not suffice. If those unfortunate victims of this fresh disaster had been like many of our readers, only just getting ready, their case would now indeed be awful; of all hope bereft, and forever to lament their fatal folly in neglecting God’s great salvation.
Reader, do not delay—do not put off for one single hour the decision df this momentous question. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)); receive Him by faith as your own personal Saviour, who died for your sins, and rose again for your justification; then confess Him as your Lord, follow Him as your guide, and serve Him as your Master.
But what of poor Davis, the engine-driver? As they extricated him from the wreckage of that terrible smash for which he alone seems to have been responsible, he confessed that he saw the red danger signal, but dashed past it thinking that it would turn to white. “What madness ever possessed the man!” I think I hear the reader exclaim. He saw the red light, and yet utterly disregarded it! He thought it would turn to white! What ground had he for so thinking? Oh, what culpable folly! What foolhardy recklessness!
Yes, reader, you can see it clearly in his case, but are you not just as foolish, just as mad? You are flying along as fast as time can carry you into a boundless eternity.
Put on the brake!
Take the book of God into your hands, and on bended knee ask God to show you what road you are traveling on, and where that road will lead you for eternity.
“Wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat” (Matt. 7:1313Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: (Matthew 7:13)). Are you still on that broad road? Make no mistake, it is the road that all are traveling on, until God’s converting grace turns us to that narrow way of a personal faith in His beloved Son.
A. H. B.