The Train we Ride

I once heard a story told. 

Here, I'll set the scene ...

A campfire burns. Rustic log benches encircle the fire pit. People sit around, cozy in sweatshirts and swatting the mosquitos away. Songs have been sung joyfully with giggles and hand clapping. And it's time for the story. A different kind of campfire story. But a good one. A tear-jerker.

And so it goes ...

Eli was a railroad bridge operator. Ships sailed along the river, bringing goods to the city's port, and his job was to make sure the bridge was up so they could safely pass through. And when the trains came, sometimes they hauled cargo, sometimes they were filled with travelers. He needed to make sure the bridge was lowered in time for the trains to cross. 

Some days, his son Johnny came to work with him. Johnny was fascinated with the ships and trains; with the cargo and the people. Oh, he loved the people. Sometimes a crew member on board a ship would wave up at him; sometimes he would catch a glimpse of another child staring out the train window and would exchange quick smiles. The people brought him joy.

On one particular day, a ship had passed through, and the not-so-distant sound of a train whistle met their ears. The train was early. 
"Son, I need to go back to the control room. Train's coming." He dusted off his hand from the sandwich they had just shared. They had been sitting on the catwalk, looking down at the water, talking about the ships and the trains and the people. 

Eli ran back to the control area, just in time to move the lever that would lower the bridge. The chugging of the train was quite loud now. A passenger train. A long one. 
As the train approached, he heard a sound. A cry. His heart stopped for a moment. 
Johnny! 
Glancing out the control room window, his eyes frantically searched the area for his son. He wasn't sitting where he left him. 
Johnny! Johnny!

"Daddy!" The voice cut through to his heart. His son had fallen and was caught between the gears that operated the movement of the bridge. If Eli hit the lever, the train would safely pass by; but his son would be crushed. 

"Daddy!"

Johnny!

Tears were streaming down Eli's face now. The passenger train held hundreds of people! If he didn't lower the bridge, the train would crash, killing them all. If he lowered the bridge, his son would die. 

The choice was hard. It was gut-wrenching. 

And he hit the lever.

Johnny's life saved hundreds of lives. 

And Eli sobbed. 

As the train passed, he saw faces of mothers and fathers; of grandparents; of brothers and sisters. A child sat in one window seat, his face pressed against the window; a baby slept in her mother's arms. 

They had no idea.

They had no idea that Johnny just gave his life up so they could live. 
The people who gave Johnny such joy to see had no idea that he died so they could live.
They had no idea that the heart of Eli had just broken in two. 

They had no idea that they would all go on to live another day, laughing, joking, eating, sleeping, singing, working, playing, relating ... but that Johnny would not.

The way the guy at that campfire told this story, had everyone riveted in their spot on the logs. Silence claimed the night air, except for the crackling of the fire. Tears rolled down some cheeks; horror showed up on some faces. The heart-breaking way he had cried out "Daddy!" and "Johnny!", was enough to unhinge anyone. 

But then. 
Then he explained. Calmly, quietly, soberly.

Johnny was Jesus.
This is what He did on the cross for all of humanity. We were all on that train. 

Jesus. Jesus. 
In His holiness, out of His love for human life, out of the joy He held for his creation, Jesus gave His life. His body was beaten, bloodied, speared and broken.

Life taken so life could be given. 
And some of us have no idea.

No idea that in that moment when He cried out, "Father!" ... we had no idea the ramifications of our sin.

When He cried out "Father!" ... we had no idea that His last breath made the earth tremble and tombs break open. 

When He cried out "Father!" ... we had no idea that we were headed for a massive train wreck before He stepped in.
He made the way so we could live, laugh, joke, eat, sleep, sing, work, play, relate. 

So what do we do with that?

What do you do with that?

My heart sings. 
It sings, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty; who was, and is, and is to come!" 
Holy. Set apart. Powerful. Awesome. Worship-worthy. Praise-worthy. 

Fall to my knees, face to the floor humility. 

Acknowledging the goodness of the Lord. Thanking for His rescue. 
Thanking Him for His saving from the trainwreck.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but will have eternal life." John 3:16