June 1, 2006

[Rev. Doc]

Look Up

"My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge."
Psalms 62:7

On April 12, 1999, Ivers Sims was operating a heavy lift crane on top of the high-rise Fulton Bag and Cotton Mill in Atlanta. The mill was being renovated into apartment lofts. Workmen were shoveling gravel and tarpaper into a skidpan that Sims would lift with his crane and empty into a dumpster.

Shortly after lunchtime, Sims noticed smoke billowing out of a hole in the tarpaper. He watched as the workmen picked up hoses to battle the flames. The smoke got worse. After a few minutes, Sims saw the men were trying to get the hose down the stairwell. Just as the last of them disappeared, he heard a sudden "whooosh."

Flames boiled through the roof. Sims keyed his radio: "Y'all got a fire on top of the building."

There was no answer. Sims decided to abandon the crane, but when he looked down, he saw his tower enveloped in flames. He was trapped.

Sims went to his knees and prayed. Several long minutes later, he looked up and approaching was a rescue helicopter. Fireman Matt Mosely was lowered from a hoist and climbed on to the crane. He attached a rescue harness on Sims and clutching the crane operator tightly, the two men were lifted to safety.

Our only security in this world is from above. It is only when we look to the Lord that we will be saved.

Prayer: Thank God for the eternal security only He provides.

"Perhaps only when human effort had done its best and failed, would God's power alone be free to work."
~Corrie Ten Boom