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An
Outreach Publication of the Church of Christ at
Creekwood |
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Couldn't Stand It Some years ago, in the state of Virginia, a brakeman was standing on the rear platform of the caboose of a freight train loaded with fifty cars of coal. A switch engine was backing the heavy train. As the long line of freight cars clanked around a curve, the brakeman saw a little sixteen-month-old child playing on the tracks. The horrified mother discovered the peril of her child at the same time the brakeman did. Heedlessly she ran forward to grab the child; but it was obvious that she could not reach her in time. Stopping the heavily loaded train was impossible. The brakeman leaped from the train, sprinted down the track faster than the train was moving, grabbed the child with one hand, pushed the frantic mother aside with the other, and leaped to safety as the train moved by. “Never saw such a pretty baby,” said the brakeman, as he handed the child to its mother. “Just couldn’t stand to see her lost!” Guy N. Woods stated that this incident “stands as a worthy example of Paul’s ‘peradventure’” of Romans 5:7 – “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die” (KJV). Woods further commented: “In the annals of love and friendship, incidents such as these rise above the commonplace in life, deserve and receive their need of commendation. But after all has been said and written in their honor, it still remains that the sacrifice involved was made on behalf of those regarded as WORTHY.” Consider and compare the LOVE of God… Again quoting Guy N. Woods: “The vastness and incomparable nature of God’s love are exhibited in the fact that the sacrifice He made in giving His Son to die, was done on behalf of those not good, not righteous, but SINNERS.” “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 NKJV). As sinners, you and I are in peril of being lost eternally. “For the wages of sin is DEATH, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). To give us that life, however, Jesus had to DIE for our sins. His blood serves as payment for our sins. Why would God give His Son for us? Why would Jesus willingly lay down His life – not for good and righteous people – but for sinners like YOU and ME? Because
He just couldn’t stand to see us lost! He
WILL save us -IF-
we will accept His offer on His terms:
placing our faith
in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), repenting
of our sins (Acts 17:30-31), confessing
Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and being baptized
(immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sin
(Acts 2:38). He
will CONTINUE to save those who CONTINUE to follow
Him
David A. Sargent, Minister Church of Christ at Creekwood To Subscribe to "Living Water" send a blank e-mail to:
HTML version: subscribe-livingwater@lyris.dundee.net Follow this link to locate the church of Christ nearest you: www.churchzip.com Archived issues of "Living Water" can be accessed from our website at: www.creekwoodcc.org
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