IN A dreadful earthquake in Italy years ago it was estimated that more than 200,000 people lost their lives. A man who was one of ten saved out of 80 staying at a hotel told the story of how some children were saved.
Going to the dock for help, he got an English ship captain and some of his men along with some Russian sailors to go back with him into the ruined town, carrying ropes and ladders. Out on a balcony five stories up they saw two children in danger. The building seemed to rock as if about to collapse. The children were crying for help. The men shouted to them to find some string and lower it with a stone at the end. This they did, and the sailors tied a strong rope to the string which the children pulled up and made fast to the balcony.
One of the sailors immediately began to climb up the rope. It was dreadfully dangerous, but up he went to save those children at the risk of his life. Reaching the balcony at last he shouted down, “There’s a ton of them up here. I can’t manage to save them alone.”
Without any hesitation another sailor climbed up the rope. Together the two brave fellows made a slip knot at the end of the rope and lowered one dear child down to safety.
How this reminds us of the Lord Jesus who came to save sinners. But He did not say, “I can’t save them alone.” No, indeed. There was no one but He who could save us and He went into death all alone. He could say, “Of the people there was none with Me” (Isa. 63:33I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. (Isaiah 63:3)). “I, even I, am the Lord; and beside Me there is no saviour.” Isa. 43: 11. The children had faith in the rope, faith in those strong arms, and it is just such faith or trust that we must have in the Lord Jesus, the Saviour who is mighty, if we are to be saved.
One, two, three, four children were thus lowered. How many more? Five, six, seven, eight reached the ground in safety. Breathlessly friends watched below as the ninth, and then the tenth were safely landed. Thus were the children all saved — saved from the crash of the earthquake, saved from the fire that was spreading all around. What a salvation!
But not so great as that which saves us from sin and death and everlasting woe. What a Saviour Jesus is, everlasting praise be His!
When all were down the sailors quietly slid down the ropes themselves as the onlookers cheered and thanked the men who were only too glad to have saved so many young lives. How grateful those children were! But our Saviour deserves far more from us, for He has given His life to save us. He died that we might escape. “O, what a Saviour.”
ML-10/22/1972