It's a matter of
LIFE or DEATH!

HE FELL FROM A PLATFORM fifteen feet above the pit on to a slab of steel that had previously drained from a 500-ton steel-making open-hearth furnace. The slab measured 15 feet by 20 feet and was one foot thick. It was still bright cherry red. Big Roy Boyette's body began to burn.

Working in an open-hearth was hot, the temperatures on occasions rising to over 300° Fahrenheit; it was also very dangerous. Having been an operator of a furnace for sixteen years, I knew from experience. Nine of my co-workers were killed during that time and I, too, narrowly escaped sudden death more than once.

Hearing Roy scream as he fell, a small co-worker nicknamed Red ran to the area. Without any hesitation, he leaped onto the red-hot steel slab and successfully pulled Big Roy's burning body to safety. It was a miracle! Little Red's shoes and gloves caught fire as he made the rescue. He was brave, for it was a matter of life or death! Sad to say, however, two weeks later, Roy experienced a horrible death from severe complications. He was a pitiful sight!

One could go on and on relating heroic rescues that have taken place in the history of mankind, but let me point you to the greatest of them all. This rescue involved a matter of life or death and it involves you! Surprised? Read on!

Rescue For The Helpless

Only helpless people need rescuing. They are in critical need of an outside force to deliver them. Doctors at times are able to rescue people from dying by employing their medical skills. Lifeguards rescue drowning people by their ability. Trapped coal miners have experienced rescue by the relentless efforts of those on the outside. Best yet -- "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (1 Timothy 1:15).

One day I discovered that I needed to be rescued! My sins were taking me to hell. I was, as the Bible states, "dead in trespasses and sins," thus by nature a child of wrath even as others (Ephesians 2:1,3). I was helpless to save myself. God said to me, "Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death" (Jeremiah 21:8). Now then, I trust that you will be courteous enough to let God show you the way of life and the way of death as He showed me. It really matters very little what I may say, it is what God says that really counts, for remember, this is a matter of life or death!

The Way of Life

As for eternal life, we all need to be saved by God to possess it. It can never be obtained by working, be very clear about that! God says, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us" (Titus 3:5). "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23). Jesus says, "I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand" (John 10:28).

As you can readily see, eternal life is a free gift given to us by the Lord Jesus and it is eternal. That is why Christ died, that through the shedding of His blood we may be rescued from the penalty of our sins. God says, "Deliver him from going down to the pit (hell): I have found a ransom" (Job 33:24). That ransom was paid by Christ. God clearly states, "Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold ... but with the precious blood of Christ" (1 Peter 1:18,19). You can come into the benefit of this by placing your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, acknowledging that He died for you, to put your sins away and save you from hell. A trembling and helpless jailor inquired how to be saved and was told, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31). He obeyed, believed on Christ and was immediately saved! Has this ever been your experience, my friend? It certainly can be, even now, if you only trust Him for your salvation.

"When I took the place of sinner,
And at mercy's footstool lay,
Jesus took the place of Saviour,
And took all my sins away!"

Now then, what about the way of death? That's a solemn subject, isn't it? God says, "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). He is referring to physical death, an appointment for us all. However, death does not end all, it only escorts us to heaven or to hell. Our eternal destiny depends on what we have done with Jesus. If we have trusted Him as Saviour, heaven will be our eternal home -- if not, hell will consequently be our abode. In Revelation 20, God speaks of the second death, which is everlasting confinement to the lake of fire. Friend, it is a matter of life or death. Where will you be in eternity? That depends entirely on what you do with Jesus.

ROBERT E. SURGENOR, Evangelist