One Sunday afternoon John Slater, a dear ardent evangelist, was walking near an unused coal pit. He saw about 200 miners gathered around the edge of the pit, all looking down with the greatest interest and concern.
Crossing the road to see what was going on, Mr. Slater saw a miner climbing up the side of the pit with great difficulty. Under his arm he carried a rooster. The man had gone down to rescue the poor bird, and when he safely reached the surface, a big cheer broke out from the 200 men who had watched the rescue.
A rather short man, Mr. Slater at once stepped forward and proclaimed with a voice that could be heard by everyone: “Friends, that was a kindly act, and you did well to cheer our comrade. But let me tell you I was once deep down in a horrible pit and in the miry clay of sin, and One who came to save sinners, the Lord Jesus Christ, brought me up and set my feet upon a rock. I want you all to let Him-do the same for you.”
The men dispersed in silence. A year later Mr. Slater was met by a man who said, “You were the man who spoke to us that Sunday when one of our fellows rescued the rooster, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” said Slater.
“Well, I want to tell you that I was brought up out of the horrible pit of sin that afternoon by the blessed Saviour, and now I am preaching the gospel to others. I have been serving for a whole year and by His grace I mean to continue until the end.”
Dear friends, as children of fallen Adam, we were all down in that pit of sin. The Lord Jesus came from heaven to rescue us, for He “came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)). He bore sin’s guilt and shame, went down into death, and rose again from the dead. Now in heaven He is the Saviour of sinners, and preserves all who trust Him for their soul’s salvation from the pit of sin and death and sets them upon the Rock of ages. For them there is no more condemnation, their sins are forever gone from God’s sight and they are on their way to heaven.
What a Saviour! Is He yours, dear friend? Are you saved from the pit and on the Rock? If not, trust Him and start on the heavenly road today!
ML-03/09/1980