A Sequel to last week's story, Over The Falls
LAST WEEK'S issue of "Messages" carried the story of Rodger Woodward, seven years old, who had the most unique and terrifying experience of being swept over Niagara Falls. But through God's great mercy he lived to tell of his frightening ordeal and thrilling rescue. Roger was acclaimed the only person in history to survive a plunge over the Falls.
Rodger and his sister Deanne were out boating with an older friend, James Hunnicut, above the Falls when they were caught in the grasp of the powerful current and carried downward. In vain James tried to row back, but the boat capsized and they were all thrown into the torrent. Deanne was pulled to safety at the edge of Goat Island just fifteen feet from the awful brink. Both Rodger and Deanne were wearing life jackets but James had none and he perished in the abyss below.
Rodger was flung over the edge of the Falls and dropped down the 162 foot precipice into the billows beneath. He came back up again, however, and began floating down stream. In the mercy of God the tourist boat, "Maid of the Mist," was near the bottom of the Falls. The captain noticed an object floating in the water, and then he heard a voice crying, "Help!". It was Rodger still alive, and they threw him a life preserver. After two attempts Rodger grasped the preserver and was pulled to safety. Truly his salvation was a miracle.
Just one year later, on July 25, Rodger experienced another miracle in his life far more wonderful than going over the Falls. While he was at a Bible camp in New York he heard the glorious gospel of Christ, told out. Though still a boy, Rodger realized his soul was drifting on to a lost eternity. No doubt the awful experience he had passed through the year before was used of God to solemnize his young heart.
His second miracle took place when he laid hold of salvation by accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour and passed from death unto life. Dear Rodger told of the peace and joy that flooded his soul when he realized that his sins were forever gone, cleansed in the blood of Jesus, that crimson flood which washes whiter than snow.
Rodger's gratitude to God is beautifully expressed in these words: "I guess the Lord saved me the first time so that I could be saved the second time."
Rodger learned three things: 1) He was a sinner and needed to be saved. 2) He could not save himself. 3) He must grasp the lifeline that God in His grace had thrown out to him.
That lifeline is the gospel which is "the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth." Rom. 1:1616For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16). When one by faith lays hold of God's promise of salvation, those everlasting arms of love reach down and draw the trusting one to eternal safety.
Rodger had his lifejacket on when he went over the Falls and no doubt this in a human way helped save his life. God says that those who have put on Christ, who have Him as their Saviour, will "never perish."
When they threw that life preserver to little Rodger, struggling in the river, he did not wait, but frantically grasped it at once. It was his only chance to be saved. And God is offering you salvation now, dear reader. Do not delay. It may be your last chance to be saved. Reach out by faith and take Christ at this moment.
Rodger found in Jesus a Saviour who can "save them to the uttermost them that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth." Heb. 7:2525Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25). The Lord Jesus not only saves us from the penalty of sin, which is eternal death in hell, but He also saves us from the power of sin in our lives day by day. He is the "Captain of our salvation" and will guide us home to heaven where we shall be saved forever from the very presence of sin. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16).
Messages of the Love of God 3/23/1975