Tim was visiting his cousin Stan who lived on a cattle ranch in Montana. Both boys were on their holiday break at the end of the year. His first day there Tim was shown the new snowmobile that Stan had. “We use it to check cattle... and to have fun on.” Stan explained smiling.
And fun they did have. The new snowmobile was a big, powerful machine that could carry the two of them over the rugged winter countryside. They were able to make accurate counts of the cattle, too. Even this was fun, because it meant another ride.
One cold morning the two boys went over to the north pasture to check the cattle there. They stopped and turned off the snowmobile. Then they walked down toward the trees that followed the creek. There they found the cattle in the shelter of the trees. All seemed to be doing fine.
Returning to the snowmobile, they were walking close to the road. Suddenly Tim asked, “What was that?”
“It sounded like a groan coming from over there — where the sharp curve in the road is,” Stan answered pointing.
As they ran to the road they could see that part of the fence had been knocked down. Tire tracks went down the bank, and at the bottom they saw a car lying upside down by the creek.
Sliding down the embankment, they found a lady lying on the ground beside the car.
“I wonder if she’s alive?” asked Tim.
“She must be,” answered Stan. “We both heard her groan.”
It was then that the injured lady weakly opened her eyes. “Oh, finally help has arrived,” she said, and then her eyes closed again.
“You stay with her, Tim. I’ll go get help,” said Stan as he climbed back up the bank. Less than two minutes later Tim heard the roar of the snowmobile starting and moving at full power off into the distance.
At some point in our life, each of us must come face to face with our sins and their result — they will keep us out of heaven. The Bible explains that each of us is a sinner (Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)), and God cannot accept us with our sins. But if we admit our need to be free of those sins and call to God to save us, He will hear. “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear.” Isaiah 59:11Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: (Isaiah 59:1).
Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only way we can be saved. In the Bible He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6).
Being a sinner, you must have your sins washed away before you can have everlasting life. You may have your own ideas of how you’ll handle your sins, but there is nothing you can do yourself to get rid of them. God says all your honesty and goodnesses “are as filthy rags.” Isaiah 64:66But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6). The only way to be free from your sins is to believe what the Bible tells us that the Lord Jesus Christ was punished for sin and that it was His blood shed on the cross that can wash them all away. Then, according to Isaiah 1:1818Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18), “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” This is what God’s love in providing a Saviour can do for you. You are just like the lady in our story. You are helpless and you need someone to rescue you. The Lord Jesus is that One.
The lady opened her eyes again. “Help is coming soon,” Tim assured her as he tried to keep her hands warm in his.
“The road was icy and it was so late,” she weakly said, and slowly she told Tim the story. She had been able to get out of the car but could not climb up the bank. “I think my leg is broken,” she said.
Just about then Tim heard the sound of the snowmobile returning. It came right to the top of the bank and stopped. Stan’s father was driving, and Stan was on the back clutching a bundle of blankets. “We’ve called an ambulance,” he said as they worked their way down the bank.
Using the blankets, they wrapped the lady carefully. Within 15 minutes an ambulance from town was there. They put her on a stretcher, and with all of them helping, they were able to get her up the bank and into the ambulance.
“If she had been in the cold any longer she would have died,” remarked one of the paramedics. “She will make it now, thanks to you boys.”
We who have been saved by the Lord Jesus Christ can say, “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.” 2 Corinthians 9:1515Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. (2 Corinthians 9:15). “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23). Won’t you accept this gift and be rescued from your sins and be included with those who have everlasting life?
ML-02/17/1985