Safety nets and eternity

 

 

It worked out that for every million dollars spent one person would be killed in an accident whilst engaged in construction.  So when construction began in 1932 many safety measures were put into place and strictly enforced.  After nearly 4 years of construction and 20 million dollars spent, only one worker had died.

The most effective safety device, without question, was the use of a trapeze net.  It cost 130,000 dollars.  It was hung 60 feet below where the road bridge was being constructed and extended 10 feet on either side.  So effective was the safety net that the newspaper would keep a running score.  “Score on the Gate Bridge Safety Net to date: 8 lives saved!” 

Those men whose lives had been delivered by the net were said to have joined the “Halfway to Hell Club”. They knew as they lost their grip and began to fall what awaited them.  But suddenly halfway down there was a net that saved them.

In Luke 12:4-5 we read that Jesus said,

“Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that.  But I’ll tell you whom to fear.  Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into Hell.    Yes, he’s the one to fear.” 

Jesus never pulled His punches when it came to talking about eternity. He made it very clear there is a Heaven to gain and a Hell to shun. He speaks of the fire of hell, eternal punishment, gnashing of teeth and intense crying or wailing.  

 
The truth is that many people around us are in the “Halfway to Hell Club” and there is something for them to fear.