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The man was really dedicated to his job. He had the responsibility of raising the Transcontinental Railroad Bridge that spanned the great river whenever a ship or boat was too large to pass underneath the bridge. As an exciting present, he allowed his eight year old, only son, to accompany him to work one day. A huge ocean-going vessel was approaching the bridge and the span was raised to accommodate the high chimney funnels. It would take an hour or so for the ship to be clear of the bridge. Then they went down on the work ramps to see close at hand, the giant gears which could raise and lower the monstrous bridge at the will and dexterous touch of the man's experienced hands on the buttons in the control tower. They became so engrossed in their 'tour' that the sudden signal that the cross-country railway express was approaching the bridge, startled them. The man realized that time was of the essence and that it was a long complicated way through the maze of steel ramps up to the control tower and that, to carry and lead his son, would slow him down and jeopardize his getting the bridge lowered in time. After a quick explanation of the problem to his son and cautioning him to stay put, he ran for the control tower. The various approach signals for the oncoming train were methodically tripping as the train approached, but the bridge would be lowered in sufficient time. Suddenly, he noticed that his son was leaning over the guardrail to get a better look at the gears when the metal ramp started to vibrate as the huge gears began to mesh together. He yelled to his son, but the distance and the noise drowned him out. Then it happened. His son lost his grip on the rail and fell onto the top of one of the gears. The man made some quick mental calculations. He could simply push a button and the gears would stop and he could race down and rescue his son. But the approach signals indicated that the bridge would only be securely in place for the express train to cross over, if he allowed the gears to continue to lower the bridge. The decision was enormous! He could save his son, but at the price of hundreds of lives if the train plunged into the river. He just had to allow the gears to continue even though they would take the life of his son, because there were so many other lives at stake. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that we might have eternal life!" John 3:16 The analogy could end here, but as the train sped by the control tower, the man could clearly see in the windows that the passengers were reading their papers or chatting with one another, and some were even sleeping. They were all completely unaware and oblivious of the tremendous sacrifice he made so that they could be saved. Some of the passengers would come to know of his sacrifice, and become greatly moved. Some of them would live out their whole lives without ever hearing about it. Worse yet, some would hear about it but never believe that it every really happened! It is almost as hard to believe that there are many, even in our own churches, who fit into these various categories. Evangelization in the pews is a practical and necessary starting point.
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