It was a dark, snowy night in the Canadian Rockies, and a 117-car freight train was making its usual run over a pass. The only people in the engine were the engineer and two firemen.
The train reached the top of the mountain and began to go down the other side. The engine and the first few cars started down at normal speed as they were held back by the weight of the rest of the train behind them. But as more and more cars started down the other side, their weight began to build up behind the engine. The train began moving faster and faster! The engineer soon noticed that the brakes weren’t working very well—then he noticed that they weren’t working at all! The tracks were coated with ice, and the 117 cars were sliding down the icy tracks and gaining speed!
Our lives often run smoothly, and we don’t think we need God’s help. But sometimes He allows us to hit trouble spots. It is then we learn that we really aren’t in control. Only God can keep our lives in control. Don’t wait until you are older to discover that you have no brakes! Little habits developed while you are young can ruin your life as you get older. The Bible reminds us that “whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:77Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7)). Accept the Lord Jesus as your Saviour right now, and let Him control your life.
The train went faster and faster down the mountainside. The engineer and the two firemen thought about jumping out, but the train was already moving too fast. Its speed climbed all the way up to 85 mph, which was twice the speed it should have been traveling!
The three men could only sit and stare death in the face as the train hurtled along. The engineer told the men to start praying—and they did. Turning to God was all they had left, but you don’t have to wait until the last minute. You can turn to Him right now and know that He will help you all the time.
Back in the caboose, two more crewmen wondered what was going on. They knew the train was running away, but they didn’t know why, so they uncoupled the caboose from the rest of the train. This would allow the caboose to slow down.
Finally, as the rest of the train hurtled around a curve, it derailed. One hundred and four cars spilled over and plunged into the river below. But the engine and the detached caboose—which had its own set of brakes—stayed on the track! God had saved the men from certain death.
God loves you and sent His Son to die for you. The blood of Jesus can wash your sins away, and He will keep you forever. Will you accept Him as your Saviour—right now—while you are young? “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not” (Ecclesiastes 12:11Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; (Ecclesiastes 12:1)).
ML-01/18/2009