A Momentous Day, April 18, 1906
As the clock tolled the midnight hour it ushered in another promising day for the beautiful city of the Golden Gate. That memorable day crept upon the city quietly, peacefully. Tired men slept; others, restless after their previous night's pleasures, tossed in nervous, fitful slumber.
It was approaching that strangely quiet hour just before a great city arouses itself for the whirl of the day's work.
Suddenly, the bosom of the earth heaved and great stone buildings quivered.
With frightened cries people leaped from their beds and rushed into the street. The trembling increased to a severe quaking, and the people, like swarming bees, began to flee.
The quaking then became a fearful rocking; cries and prayers, shrieks and moans mingled with the crash of falling stones and breaking timbers. For three minutes there was a roar as of cannonading from a thousand battlefields, as structure after structure bowed before the heaving earth, and tottered crashing to the ground.
To crown the horror of the scene, fire broke out and raged for four days devouring the wealth of that great metropolis.
Hundreds, if not thousands, perished; 300,000 were rendered homeless; $250,000,000.00 in property was destroyed. "Awful!" "Terrible!" "Horrible!" is our reaction.
But, my friend, will you be patient with me as I tell you the story of a more momentous day, and of a much worse tragedy that took place about the year 33 A.D.?
A man had been tried for certain offenses and a prejudiced council had declared Him guilty. His accusers induced the governor to waive his power of pardon, and to turn the man over to meet His death by crucifixion.
The maddened populace surged about this One as He wearily, yet patiently, began to bear His cross up the steep hill on whose summit He was to be "lifted up." On the brow of that hill they crucified Him. A title was placed above His thorn-crowned head. It read, "This is Jesus the King of the Jews."
"And they that passed by reviled Him, wagging their heads... Likewise also the chief priests mocking Him, with the scribes and elders, said... He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him: for He said, I am the Son of God... The thieves also, which were crucified with Him, cast the same in His teeth."
"Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour... the sun was darkened... and, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and THE EARTH DID QUAKE, and the rocks rent."
Just before this we read of Him: "Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished... said... IT IS FINISHED: and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost... But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water." (From the four gospels.)
Perhaps you say, I don't want to think about the next life just yet; I'll wait until later. Friend, think again for a moment of San Francisco's fate. God's time had come, and in a moment they were swept into eternity! Do not trifle with the uncertainties of life, with the sureness of coming judgment, with the realities of eternity! I ask you in earnest love, "Are your sins forgiven? Are you saved now, and for eternity?"
The Bible says, "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). Rom. 10:99That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9) tells us: "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus [Jesus as Lord], and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."
The work is done. It is all of grace; there is nothing you need to do but to believe and receive it.