One dark midnight, flames were seen coming from the windows of a house. In a few minutes fire trucks came rushing to the scene, their sirens screaming loudly. A crowd quickly gathered, eager to help put out the fire or to rescue anyone in the house. One after another the folks were brought out and kindly received into the homes of the neighbors. It was supposed that all had been saved when a woman burst through the crowd, wringing her hands and crying piteously, “My Sandy, my Sandy is still in there!”
Was it possible that a precious child was still in danger of the awful flames, and no effort was being made to reach her? Yes, the girl was still in the burning house!
Sandy had been put to bed as usual, and after she was asleep, her mother had gone out to see a sick neighbor. The sound of the fire-siren and the shouts and cries of the crowd brought her quickly to the spot. She gave a hurried glance to see if Sandy had been brought out, but no Sandy was there. Sound asleep in her bed, the little girl was unconscious of her terrible danger.
The firemen looked at each other in dismay. There was not a moment to spare; but who was to risk his life to save little Sandy? Another moment and a tall fireman, his helmet gleaming in the light of the flames, was seen ascending the ladder. It was a terrible risk, and the people below stood with bated breath as they saw him enter the window and disappear amid the smoke.
In less than two minutes he appeared again at the window, clasping the child in one arm. There was a ringing cheer from the crowd, and many a “God bless you” as he came down the ladder. Sandy was soon safely in her mother’s arms. But that noble act cost the fireman his life. The flames from which he saved the young girl had burned him so badly that he never recovered.
Could Sandy ever forget the love of the one who saved her? No; many a time she wept as she thought of his sacrifice, and she often went to the cemetery to put flowers on his grave.
But the love of the fireman was only a shadow of the love of Jesus, who left His heavenly home and, on the cross of Calvary, endured the wrath of God against sin to rescue sinners from eternal hell.
Who would be foolish enough to remain in a burning building with the flames raging all around? And yet many sleep on in their sins in this world which, like Sodom and Gomorrah of old, is soon to be destroyed by awful judgment, unconscious of their terrible danger. Awake and be saved, unsaved reader.
“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: 16.
“Jesus called them unto Him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.”
ML-01/16/1977