The man slipped
while he was getting on a commuter train in Perth, Australia.
With "Murphy's Law" being what it is, I can tell you his slip occurred
at the most inopportune of places: his leg went down, far down, between
one of the train's cars and the edge of the platform ... and the train
was about to depart.
A quick-thinking fellow passenger notified
the railroad staff, which stopped the train from leaving ... but there
was another train coming, and prolonged delays can be catastrophic. When
normal help procedures didn't succeed in freeing the man, the railroad
crew came up with an innovative idea.
They called for all of the
passengers to lend a hand.
Video footage of the people's response
is dramatic. Dozens of strangers came together as a team and gently,
ever so gently, applied pressure to one side of the train car. They all
knew that rocking the car would destroy the man's leg and too much oomph
would derail the vehicle. Almost imperceptibly the car moved. Just an
inch or three was enough to do the job.
The man was freed without
scratch or scar and he, along with the good Samaritans, disappeared into
the city.
Cool story, don't you think? I like those stories that
have a happy ending. I especially like those happy-ending stories which,
like this one, are applicable to the Christian life.
You see,
most of us know folks who have fallen into sin, are caught and are
living out their days without the Savior. Left on their own the
situation is hopeless and eternal death and damnation is inevitable.
But, thanks be to God, these folks are not left on their own. The
Heavenly Father, seeing their situation, sent His perfect Son, Jesus,
into the world to save them. Through His life, suffering, death and
resurrection, the Law has been fulfilled, their sins are forgiven, and
salvation is a reality for all who are brought to faith.
This is
where the Lord has asked us to help.
God has encouraged all of
His people to come together and do everything they can to reach out to
these lost souls. Through ministries like The Lutheran Hour, through
your Synod, through your individual congregation and family, we who were
once strangers come together and give the lost the helping hand which
saves.
God's Word, the Savior's story, and our proclamation can
make all the difference.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, by Your grace and
the Savior's sacrifice I have been saved. Now may I, and all Christians,
come together and lend a hand in the freeing of other souls. Success to
these ventures I pray in the Name of my Savior, Jesus. Amen.
Pastor Ken Klaus Lutheran Hour Ministries All rights reserved; not to be duplicated without permission.
