-
Right On The Edge
Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Jul 29, 2011 (message contributor)
RIGHT ON THE EDGE
A veteran Buffalo, N.Y. police officer found the handwritten note on the ice along with a brown wallet and a baseball cap with a pen stuck through it. The note was short and to the point, "Please tell my parents I'm sorry." A 48-year-old man in a thin blue jacket, on a cold, March afternoon, had secured the note to the ice and waded into the 33-degree river.
He had stepped into the river at Niagara Falls! The average depth is 16 feet and it flows at 20 mph. Overwrought by massive gambling debts to casinos on both sides of the falls, the man decided there was no other way out. So he got in with the intent of ending his life.
No one saw him get in, but around 4:30 p.m., someone spotted him from the Canadian side of the falls. Somehow, just before he went over the 170-foot falls, he was able to wedge his legs beneath a rock on the ledge.
Sgt. Patrick Moriarty saw him and began the rescue effort. Helicopter attempts to drop a safety ring failed. Police estimate that there is an average of one suicide at Niagara Falls every month. For every successful attempt, they say, many more have second thoughts. Few get a second chance. This man did. More than two hours after the rescue efforts began, he was pulled up the steep, icy bank in the arms of a firefighter. Over and over he kept saying, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I don't know what I would do if someone had lost their life for me."
Few of us will ever be put in such a situation to help a person so desperate. But we might be surprised to know how many people all around us are right on the edge. Not on the edge of Niagara Falls, but they might as well be. Maybe no one has spotted them yet. Maybe no one else knows or understands just how serious their problems are. It's not that they want to go over the edge. They don't. But they don't know if they can keep on going. Then you become aware of them and you can be of some help. Don't withhold that help and don't delay. That's the response of the wise.
(Barry Cameron, Crossroads Church)
Related Sermon Illustrations
-
Take Care PRO
Contributed by Mike Hamilton on May 1, 2003
Little Suzie finished her prayer and said: Dear God, Before I finish, I want you to take care of mommy, take care of daddy, take care of my sister and my brother and please, God, ...read more
-
A Year Or So Ago The Rage On Tv Was The Reality ...
Contributed by Gregg Bitter on May 5, 2003
A year or so ago the rage on TV was the reality shows. Survivor was the first one that made it it big. The selling point was that instead of actors, these were real, every-day people. The outcome was not scripted and no one knew who would come out the survivor at the end. Since then many other ...read more
-
The Greek Word For Meekness Literally Means ... PRO
Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Nov 1, 2004
The Greek word for meekness literally means “strength under control.” Meekness describes a wild stallion who was tamed and taught to be ridden. That stallion still has all the strength it had when it was wild but now it ...read more
-
A Couple Named Curt And Jerrie Went On An ... PRO
Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Nov 1, 2004
A couple named Curt and Jerrie went on an African safari. They learned a lesson about following the instructions of the guide. One day the guide took them out to find an elephant herd. But he made them promise in advance to obey his rules before they even went out. He gave them some very ...read more
-
In Fact, Most Christians Today Perceive God Like ... PRO
Contributed by Mike Hamilton on May 1, 2003
In fact, most Christians today perceive God like one person noted: God is a lot like our pastor. I don’t see him through the ...read more
Related Sermons
-
When Hope Seems Lost
Contributed by Tim Diack on May 27, 2011
This is a message that was preached at our local hospital. You don't have to live very long before your confronted with the reality of pain and suffering in our world. How do we make sense out of life when hope seems lost? A look at how God can work ev
-
Making A New Man Out Of Jacob Series
Contributed by Paul Barreca on Nov 25, 2012
Jacob's trials in Haran teach us the Lord sends trials into our lives to test our commitment and to refine us to me more like Jesus.
-
Affliction
Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Apr 9, 2013
What is affliction and how are we as followers of Jesus supposed to react to those around us who are afflicted?
-
Defining Trials Series
Contributed by Brian Bill on Jul 4, 2010
Trials are designed to teach us so that our conduct and character changes.