Have you ever faced this decision? I’m sure you have and so have I. But when it comes to the matter of life or death, be very careful how you handle that decision. We each have only one life!
This decision was running through a man’s mind as he climbed over the icy steel and concrete fence that was installed years ago. Millions of people come from around the world to view the majestic splendor of Niagara Falls, and the strong fence was built for the safety and protection of these people.
The day was cold and wintry, and everything was coated with thick ice. Heavy mist that is always rising from the falls had been freezing on trees, roadways and fences, including the safety fence in front of Horseshoe Falls, the most popular area of Niagara Falls. But the man climbing over the fence didn’t care about the icy conditions. He had only one thought — to jump into that raging, turbulent river and end it all. Life had become meaningless to him. The voices of the onlookers were ringing in his ears — “STOP! STOP! ... DON’T DO IT!” But he shut his ears to their cries. He stopped at the edge of the powerful river and stood still, staring at the rushing water. The voice in his mind was saying, No one will miss me ... I am unloved and unwanted and no one will care.
The man’s thinking was completely wrong! If he had read God’s Word, the Bible, he would have found that God loves him! “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)). He would have found that God wants him! He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:99The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)). He would have found that God cares for him! “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you” (1 Peter 5:77Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. (1 Peter 5:7)). And he would have found that ending his own life would be wrong! “Do thyself no harm” (Acts 16:2828But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. (Acts 16:28)).
The poor man’s problems had so filled his mind that he completely ignored all the good things that God wanted to give him. And so he stood alone for an hour at the water’s edge on an icy surface that sloped toward the river. He was only seconds and inches away from a tragic death. Thankfully, there were others interested in his life.
By this time, many people had gathered along the safety fence, shouting encouraging words to him, but not one dared to step out onto the slippery ice. The park police had arrived and talked to the man until firefighters trained in ice and water rescues arrived with their life-saving equipment — cold-water suits, climbing gear, ropes, boots that grip on ice — everything necessary to save this man.
For fifteen or twenty minutes, there was no recognition that the firefighters were there. The man just stared down at the rushing, powerful river. Then slowly he turned and began walking back towards his rescuers. A cheer went up from the crowd as they realized he had been saved from a watery grave.
How many men did it take to rescue this man? Twenty, maybe thirty, just to save one person. Now think of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came into the world to save every one of us! “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)). One man, the Lord Jesus Christ, can save anyone and everyone who will simply put their trust in Him!
Did this poor man appreciate the work of those who rescued him? We don’t know since nothing more was said about him. But for those of us who have been saved from the pit of hell, we can sing the words of this beautiful hymn with heartfelt love and praise to God:
Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind but now I see.