On through the night the trucker drove the big rig. At about 3am he came to the bridge. A barricade with a "Closed" sign hanging on it blocked the way. The driver stopped his truck and got out of his cab to push the barricade to the side. The wind swept his hat away before he returned to his cab. Then he drove slowly onto the bridge.

Driving down the highway the wind had been partially blocked by trees and hills. On the bridge over the open water it hit the truck with full force. Hood's Canal Bridge is a mile and a half long and floats on big pontoons. Even though the roadbed of the bridge was twenty feet above the surface of the water the spray from the waves was washing over it. When the truck was partway across the bridge a gust of wind struck it and actually pushed the big trailer several feet sideways on the pavement. The driver's heart leapt up into his throat. For a moment he thought the truck would be blown off the bridge. In his mind's eye he saw the truck toppling over the railing and disappearing into the dark waves with him in it. Too scared to drive any further, the trucker decided to stop right where he was and wait out the storm. For two long hours the trucker waited on the bridge with the wind shrieking all around him. Nervously he waited for the winds to die down so he could drive off. God is reaching out to sinners in grace. He loves their souls but hates their sins. If you have realized that God is displeased with you because of sin, God doesn't want you to "wait" in such a state. No, he wants you to "Flee from the wrath the come." He wants you to go directly, immediately, and without delay to the Savior, and ask him for forgiveness. There is perfect cleansing from all the defilement of sin for everyone who comes to the Lord Jesus. "The blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son cleanseth us from all sin." There is no reason ever to "wait" before coming to him for salvation.

"Waiting" didn't work for the trucker. The storm grew worse. The bridge was taking a terrible beating from the wind and waves. One of the cables that held the pontoons to the large anchors on the bottom of the Canal snapped from the strain. The bridge began swaying back and forth. When the trucker felt the wild movement of the bridge underneath him he realized he didn't have any time to waste. Hastily he pushed the door of his cab open and leapt to the pavement. Then leaning into the wind he ran for his life. The wind stung his face as he ran. He had to jump over a light post that had crashed down in his path. Just as he got off the floating part of the bridge, he turned around to see his truck fall into the waves. Then moments later the entire floating section of the bridge broke up into large pieces and floated away on the waves into the night. The trucker had narrowly escaped with his life.

All his trouble might have been avoided if he had listened to the warning on the radio or even stopped at the barricade. Instead he had stubbornly continued on his way and it almost cost him his life. When the gospel is shared with you, like it is in this little paper, what will you do with it? Will you hear it and believe the message? Or will you determine in yourself to go on in your own strength as if all will be well? All eternity is at stake. Don't be stubborn but be wise and come to the Savior at once. "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold now it the day of salvation."

End