Sid was a loyal fireman. He liked his work, but he loved people, especially children. This made him even more concerned about the safety of anyone caught in a fire where he was called to help.
It had been a busy afternoon for Sid and the other members of the fire department. There had been several fires and other emergencies to which they had been called. Now once again they were on their way, this time to a burning 1-1/2 story house where they found some very excited neighbors.
“There are three children trapped in that house!” the upset neighbors shouted.
Apparently Sid did not give any thought to his own safety. He immediately ran into the burning house to look for the children.
However, the worried neighbors were wrong. They did not know that the children were not in the house. They had left the house long before the fire had even started. And now Sid had gone into the flames to rescue three children who were not there!
This story has a very sad ending because Sid died in that house, looking for the three children—children that he desperately wanted to save. He died needlessly, because those children did not need to be saved ... they were safe already.
Many years ago the Lord Jesus Christ died on Calvary’s cross because boys and girls (and grown-ups too) need to be saved. All people are sinners and need to be saved from the coming everlasting punishment for their sins in the lake of fire. Just as Sid, of his own will, went into the burning house to save those children, the Lord Jesus, of His own will, went into death to save sinners from their sins. Sid died even though there was no one to be saved, but the Lord Jesus did not die needlessly.
Many have already believed that He died for them, and they will be with Him in heaven one day. He died and rose again that we might be saved for heaven. “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:1313For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13)). How thankful we should be that the Lord Jesus did not die needlessly.
Are you saved from the punishment for your sins? The Lord Jesus loves you and is waiting to save you. Why not accept Him as your Saviour right now and receive the everlasting life that only He can give.
ML-02/23/2014