"And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord
of hosts, in that day when I
make up MY JEWELS."
(MALACHI 3:17)
To my dear grandchildren
Snatched From the Jaws of Death
"YELP!" Steve Gustafson heard a high-pitched cry for help.
The sixty-six-year-old man turned from his yard work and looked toward the pond at the edge of his back yard where the sound had come from. Stunned, he saw that a seven-foot-long alligator had slithered out of the pond and had snatched Mickey, his small terrier, in its jaws! He loved his pet and, without a second thought, ran to help.
Steve was willing to risk his life because he loved Mickey. Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ loves us so much that He was willing to give up His own life to save us from our sins that would land us in that awful place called hell? He died on Calvary's cross, because He knew that unless He gave up His life, we could never be set free from the awful power of sin and its results. He was the only hope to save sinners. And Steve was the only hope to save his dog.
When Steve got to the edge of the pond, the alligator had already gone back into the water, and all he could see was its tail. He guessed where the body of the gator would be and jumped like he was doing a giant belly flop off a diving board. He crashed onto the back of the alligator. Later he said it felt like landing on a pile of rocks.
Steve knew he had to get Mickey to the surface of the water so the dog could breathe. He grabbed the hind leg of the gator with one hand, and with his other fist he hit it as hard as he could on the back of its head. The dangerous creature let go of the dog, spun its head around and bit Steve on the hand. When the alligator released his bite on Steve's hand, Steve saw his chance and pinned the mouth of the alligator closed against the bottom of the pond.
He held the gator like this for a few moments, until Mickey had a chance to escape. Then he shoved the alligator away from himself, picked up Mickey, and slogged out of the pond. The alligator swam off in the opposite direction into the murky water.
Both Mickey and Steve required a few stitches to close up bite wounds. Steve thought it was a small price to pay to save his pet. Later a news reporter asked him, "Why were you willing to risk so much for your dog?"
Steve replied, "I had to do it . . . I love my dog. He is my best friend. What else could I do?"
The large alligator had completely overpowered the little dog. There was no way Mickey was going to escape those jaws of death without help. And Steve was the only one who could help Mickey escape the alligator's deadly hold. Satan, the great enemy of our souls, has his deadly hold on sinners like you and me. "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). Through sin he has sunk his "jaws of death" into us and is attempting to drag us to an eternity of suffering in hell. He will not let go, and we are no match for him. There is only one Person who has the power to save us.
God in love and grace sent His own Son to be that one to save us. The Son of God became a man with flesh and blood to destroy Satan's power. "As we are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil" (Hebrews 2:14). Only through faith in the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, can we escape the jaws of eternal death.
God loves us so much He doesn't want anyone to spend eternity in hell with the devil and his demons. "The Lord is . . . not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). Won't you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and have your sins forgiven? Then heaven, a place of wonderful light, love and joy, will be your home forever.
Love you all
Grandpa
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