By Joe Widick
Every once in a while, you here one of those stories that simply breaks your heart. I ran across a story of a tragedy that didn’t have to happen in March of 2006. There was a woman who was trapped on the top floor of a burning building. Every where she turned to find an escape passage was cut off by the fierce flames and thick smoke. When the firefighters arrived on the scene they realized the situation was critical, but not hopeless. The ladder truck drew close to the massive structure and one firefighter scrambled up the ladder to the window where the woman was screaming for help. Her arms were outstretched and he offered to save her. Suddenly the woman looked down and saw the great distance to the ground below. She panicked and drew back into the room that had no other exit. The firefighter attempting the rescue begged her to trust him for her own safety, but his pleas were not heeded. In senseless fear she retreated beyond the fireman’s reach. Finally he was forced to return to the ground. The paper recorded that he had tears in his eyes as he said, “I did everything I could to save her, but she wouldn’t let me!”
Tragedy of tragedies! Opportunity for being saved was within her grasp and yet not taken. The words of that story are haunting to me as I think of so many people that I know who are in spiritual peril. They are in danger of losing their soul. Individuals that are so close to this building, so close to your home and mine. Jesus longs to forgive sins, but people will stubbornly resist His offer of salvation. By refusing to trust Him, they are like the woman who perished in the flames even though she could have escaped.
I wonder how tenderly and compassionately Jesus gave the invitation in Matthew 11:28. I wonder if there were tears in his eyes as he saw some turn and walk away. I wonder if he shrugged his shoulders and said I just don’t understand. Remember the words, don’t ever forget what Jesus said; “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” As we fast forward to that Day of Judgment and we look at the vast crowds of mankind, waiting to judged, we realize that at some point it will be our turn to stand before the eternal judge. Will we hear our savior say on that occasion; “I did everything I could to save them, but they wouldn’t let me!”
Prayer Thought: Thank you for September 16, help me to continue to encourage others to worship with us.
By Joe Widick
Have you ever awakened in the morning and gone through your morning routine and suddenly ask yourself, where your life is really headed. Does it ever seem to you that you have had an empty and pointless life up to this point? There may have been some successful business deals and had some fun, but in terms of satisfying friendships or lasting accomplishments, your life has been a zero. Maybe you have climbed the ladder of success, only to discover that all the while it had been leaning against the wrong wall.
When one takes a look at the life of Paul, how would you put a measuring stick to his life? Was he a success or a failure? I guess it all depends on whose yardstick you use to measure success. When measured by the world’s yardstick of success, his life seems almost insignificant. He put too much aside in order to minister to the needs of others. As Paul looks back over matters, he saw that it had been rewarding but not easy.
Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy while languishing in a cold, damp dungeon awaiting execution. In a matter of weeks, the apostle would stand before Nero, the half-insane emperor of Rome, and learn that his life was coming to an end. But Paul knew that after his death he would receive the crown of life from the King of kings. History will reveal to us that the influence of his life had in reality changed the course of history itself. As Paul penned the words of that last epistle, he stated “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (II Timothy 4:7). Wouldn’t it be grand to one day have the same confidence that the apostle had and to look over our life and say with confidence what he had penned centuries earlier.
Nero made a mark on history also. Ancient historians as well as modern historians have written volumes about the splendor of Nero and the vast Roman Empire. These same historians rarely if ever mention the apostle Paul. He was simply another radical who was put to death by the emperor. It is interesting to note that in our society we name our dogs Nero and our sons Paul. It seems to me that what we live for is pretty important after all. I think it would benefit each of us to simply review what it is that we are living for. Remember there are no losers with Jesus and no winners with the devil.
May each be blessed with a life that is fulfilled in service to the master.
Prayer Thought: Thank you Lord for giving us the opportunity to life for you and to serve you.
