WHEN the Imperial Limited left Montreal carrying a very heavy train load of passengers, who among them thought of what awaited them? Part of the journey is made in safety till a station is reached where the Limited was to wait for the eastbound freight. The engineer is told to wait till 1:40 a.m., and if the freight is not there then, she is waiting at a siding further up the line. She does not come. “All aboard,” is called, the conductor gives the signal and the engineer pulls out. The train is part way across the bridge; the engine and the first cars have passed it, when, lo! a light comes round a sharp curve. What is it? Far too well the engineer of the Limited knows. The other engine with a heavy load of freight-laden cars is upon his train. Must he die? No, he can jump and be in perfect safety. He is not responsible for the mistake. Someone else has blundered. Does he? Ah no, a few seconds and all will be over. He will die. He cannot have that train load of passengers killed. “Jump!” he cries to his stoker. The men on the freight train jump, and he alone shuts off steam and reverses his engine. The engines crash and he dies. Did anyone else? No. Did anyone receive any injury? No, and why? Because that man died for them. It was either to be he or they, and he died. The passengers, grateful to the brave man who gave his life for them, gathered up a little money for his widow.
Children, there is One who has done ten thousand times as much for you. The Lord Jesus Christ saw you quickly going to destruction. Death and eternal banishment from the presence of God was your portion. You must stiffer the wages of your sin. Does He allow you to? Ah no, He says, “deliver them from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.” What was that ransom? His own blessed life for yours. He is alone at that hour; His disciples cannot go through that with Him. God must forsake Him because of your sin, and He cries, in the deepest of His agony, “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” Because of your sins.
When the passengers awoke that night they found what the engineer had done for them. May you awake, during the awful night that now reigns in this world and believe what the Lord Jesus has done for you, and, as the grateful passengers, showed their gratitude to the one who had given his life for them, may you offer Him the sacrifices of your hearts, even praise His name for His matchless death.
“Thou canst be saved, why not tonight?”
“When we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”
Sinner, o’er earth’s rails fast running,
Heeding not the danger near;
Sleeping sound in death’s deep dark ness,
Knowing not of care or fear.
Quick! awaken! lo, before you,
Lies Hell’s deep eternal brink;
You must quickly be upon it,
Then no chance to stop or think.
Dost thou see thy danger, sinner?
Would avoid the awful doom?
Look upon the cross of Calvary,
See Him rising from the tomb.
Who? the sinner-saving Saviour,
Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God;
He has all thy judgment suffered,
Shed for thee His own life blood.
“It is finished” dost thou hear it?
Finished that great work for thee.
Now thy sins can be forgiven.
Father’s home now waits for thee.
Do believe it, do receive it!
Peace and pardon, full and free.
Jesus waits, thy risen Saviour,
Waits to give to thee, e’en thee.
ML 12/18/1904