“The Lord their God will save them on that day as the flock of his people. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown.” – Zechariah 9:16

On April 12, 1999, Ivers Sims was operating a heavy lift crane on top of the high-rise Fulton Bag and Cotton Mill in Atlanta. The mill was being renovated into apartment lofts. Workmen were shoveling gravel and tarpaper into a skidpan that Sims would lift with his crane and empty into a dumpster.

Shortly after lunchtime, Sims noticed smoke billowing out of a hole in the tarpaper. He watched as the workmen picked up hoses to battle the flames. The smoke got worse. After a few minutes, Sims saw the men were trying to get the hose down the stairwell. Just as the last of them disappeared, he heard a sudden “whooosh.”

Flames boiled through the roof. Sims keyed his radio: “Y’all got a fire on top of the building.”

There was no answer. Sims decided to abandon the crane, but when he looked down, he saw his tower enveloped in flames. He was trapped.

Sims went to his knees and prayed. Several long minutes later, he looked up and approaching was a rescue helicopter. Fireman Matt Mosely was lowered from a hoist and climbed on to the crane. He attached a rescue harness on Sims and clutching the crane operator tightly, the two men were lifted to safety.

Our only security in this world is from above. It is only when we look to the Lord that we will be saved. Is your security found in Jesus Christ? Today in prayer, thank the Lord that no matter what happens in this world, we can find eternal salvation in Him.

“We human being are so security-oriented. Whether it is conscious or not, we all need and want security in our lives. From the time we are born, we are clinging to something. That’s okay, but we’ve got to be clinging to the right thing. When we are holding onto Jesus, that’s when we are holding on to real hope.” – Twila Paris

God’s Word: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.” – John 10:28

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2001, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS kennedy@devotional.com