September 26, 2012 (Wednesday)
One of the great factors in the growth of the United States was the coming of the railroads. Many years before the advent of the automobile, trains moved toward the west, and cities began to appear where once there had been only forests or open prairies. At the same time, the rails were being laid from the west back toward the east. In 1869 – the Pacific and Union railroads met in Utah, linking New York City with San Francisco, creating continuous tracks that stretched 3377 miles across the entire country. There were many joyous celebrations in every city along the route. The governors and other dignitaries met that day to drive silver and gold spikes into a laurel wood tie. Suddenly, with the driving of those spikes of precious metal into priceless wood, west joined east to unify the nation. It marked the beginning of a new era of progress and growth.
Many hundreds of years before the eventful day, other spikes were driven. The event took place in Jerusalem, and the spikes were hammered into a cruel Roman cross, ugly, crude and splintered, through the hands and feet of our precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His blood spilled onto the cross and down upon the ground. “And when that crimson flow fell to the earth below, it fell on me. My eyes were opened wide, I saw Him crucified, and knew for me He died on Calvary.” Just as years later spikes would be driven into a wood tie, they were driven into the sinless hands and feet of Jesus. The tie in the railroad would unite east and west, but the cruel tree upon which Jesus died that day long ago would unite rebellious sinners with a holy God.
And so we sing today, “At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light, and the burden of heart rolled away, It was there by faith I received my sight, and now I am happy all the day.” Then we stop and meditate as we continue to sing softly, “Blessed Redeemer, Precious Redeemer, Seems now I see Him on Calvary’s tree, Wounded and bleeding, for sinners pleading, blind and unheeding, dying for me.” And then we join with others to sing loudly and joyfully for all to hear, “There’s room at the cross for you, There’s room at the cross for you. Though millions have come, there’s still room for one, yes, there’s room at the cross for you!”
One day, around the middle of the first century, a man asked the Apostle Paul and Silas, his companion, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” to receive the plain and clear answer, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved!” He believed. He was saved. Do you believe?