Three mountain climbers had gone to Switzerland to climb one of the mountains there. They had climbed most of the peaks in Canada and the United States. Now they wanted to climb some of the Alpine peaks.
After arriving in Switzerland, they located the climbing school that had been recommended to them. They hired an experienced guide, a man named Jenni, and began to plan for their first climb.
Several days later the four men began their climb up the snow-peaked mountain Pitz Musteratsch. The climb went well with no unusual problems. The three climbers were proud of themselves when they reached the top. They rested for a short time and then began the return trip. They had decided to make the return trip by a different route.
Starting down, they soon found this way to be more dangerous than the way up. The slope was icy, and it was difficult to walk over. There was also evidence of recent snowslides on this side of the mountain.
“This could be dangerous,” warned Jenni. Each of them attached safety lines to their belts. These were linked to the person ahead and the person behind so that all four men were linked together. “Keep close to each other, and follow my steps exactly!” cautioned Jenni. “One wrong step or loud noise may start a slide.”
Jenni had no sooner finished warning them when there was a roar above them. Looking up he saw a huge cliff of snow break away and begin moving toward them. The four men tried to get out of the path of the sliding snow. But there was no time! Only Jenni, who was in the lead, managed to jump clear. The three others were knocked over and swept down the steep slope toward the brink of a high cliff. It seemed like certain death for the whole party. The men were being carried so fast that they could not stop themselves. Jenni realized that as soon as the safety rope tightened he would be pulled down too.
Stamping his steel-spiked boots into the ice, he drove his ice ax deep into the ice and braced himself. Straining backward with all his strength, he was able to stop the slide of the three other climbers. They found a foothold in the icy slope and carefully climbed back to Jenni, who was still holding tightly to the rope that held them. He had saved the lives of the three men - saved them from going over the cliff to their death! The three climbers will never forget Jenni, their guide who saved their lives.
At the end of a sinner’s life there is everlasting punishment if he has not had his sins forgiven. Many people are sliding over the brink of life every day into an eternity without God. What a terrible thought!
The three climbers were saved because they were linked to their guide Jenni. Are you linked to Christ? Do you know Him as your Saviour and Guide? There is no safety without Him. Everyone who is linked to Him is safe even if the path is slippery. No one in His care will be lost. Jesus said, “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand” (John 10:2828And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:28)).
The Bible tells us that God loves us. He sent His Son to die for us so that we can be saved. The only question remaining is, Will you let Him save you right now?
ML-12/14/1997