Sid was a loyal fireman in Chicago, Illinois. 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. This is a sad story because Sid died, although he did not need to; he died in vain!
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 ½ story house where they found some very excited neighbors. “There are three children trapped in that house!” the neighbors exclaimed. Apparently Sid did not give any thought to his own safety as he immediately ran into the burning house to look for the children.
But, 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 someone who was not even 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 in vain 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 grownups 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 (hell). 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 in vain. Many have already believed that He has died for them, and they will be with Him in heaven. He died and rose again that we might be saved for heaven and from hell. “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 in vain.
Are you saved? Are you safe from the punishment that your sins require? The Lord Jesus loves you and wants to save you. Why not accept Him as your Saviour right now and have the everlasting life that only He can give.
ML-05/27/1984