Six-year-old Alfredo Rampi was visiting at his grandparents’ house when the accident happened. While playing in the field near the house, he fell into an open well. He was not found for several hours and then only after search parties heard his faint cries. The well opening was only 18 inches wide and narrowed to 12 inches, but it was very deep. Alfredo had fallen down the slippery, muddy well shaft. Down, down, down he slipped. The more he struggled, the farther down he slipped. Finally, he stopped sliding 120 feet below the surface.
Rescue equipment arrived quickly after Alfredo was found. Many attempts were made to lower ropes and hooks to the trapped boy. But Alfredo could not reach or even see the hooks, so these attempts failed.
The rescuers dug another shaft parallel to the well. Then a cross shaft was dug to the well. A cave expert named Claudio slithered down the opening of the rescue shaft. He started lowering himself head first at about midnight-53 hours after Alfredo had fallen into the well. He made his way down the rescue shaft dug by the rescuers and through the cross shaft. But his shoulders were too wide to squeeze all the way through the cross shaft into the well where Alfredo was stuck. Claudio worked for over an hour trying to squeeze through. Exhausted, he had to give up.
Another expert cave explorer named Angelo then tried. He had a smaller body and was able to squeeze through to the well shaft. He discovered that Alfredo had slipped another 80 feet down the well. Angelo finally worked his way down to where Alfredo was stuck between the slippery walls.
Angelo reported on his walkie-talkie that he had reached the boy. When this news was heard, cheers came from the thousands of people who were now gathered at the site. “Hook him up! Hook him up!” firemen yelled over the walkie-talkie. Angelo worked as hard as he could, but Alfredo kept slipping in the mud beyond his reach. After an hour’s struggle Angelo, mud-caked and gasping for air, was hauled back to the surface. He had tried, but had also failed.
There are millions in this world who are slipping down in sin just like Alfredo continued to slip down deeper in the well. The problem with most of these people is that they don’t know that they are in trouble. Satan has blinded them to what sin is and what the results of a sinful life are. Before they can be rescued from their sins, they have to realize that they are sinners. Once they know this, then they must admit that they can’t help themselves, that they are hopelessly stuck. This is very hard for most people to admit—that they can’t help themselves. Each one seems to have his own special way of trying to please God and get to heaven. But God has said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6). You must come God’s way or not at all.
Using six different cave experts, many rescue attempts were made to reach Alfredo. All failed. They could get to him, but a slippery coating of mud prevented them from attaching rescue equipment to the child’s outstretched arms. The last of the rescuers reported that Alfredo’s arms were “stiff and cold.” When it became apparent that he had died, all further attempts to reach him were stopped.
The rescue of Alfredo Rampi had failed! It was not because he didn’t know he was trapped or didn’t want to be rescued. It was due to the inability of the rescuers to reach him.
How wonderful to know that the One who can rescue sinful man is completely able. But there are those who are still trying various other ways to save themselves. They are playing with danger!
Admit that you are helpless and cannot save yourself. Call to God, asking Him to save you. The work has already been done. The Lord Jesus loves you so much He died on the cross, shed His blood, and was punished for your sins so that you can be saved. All you have to do is accept His love by believing that He suffered and died for your own sins. Don’t put it off. The longer you wait, the further you slip into the shaft of sin. Why not accept Him right now as your Saviour?
ML-10/25/1981