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The Cross
In 1967 while taking a class in photography at the University of Cincinnati, I
became acquainted with a young man named Charles Murray who also was a student at the
school and training for the summer Olympics of 1968 as a high diver. Charles was very
patient with me as I would speak to him for hours about Jesus Christ and how He had saved
me. Charles was not raised in a home that attended any kind of church, so all that I had
to tell him was a fascination to him. He even began to ask questions about forgiveness of
sin.
Finally the day came
that I put a question to him. I asked if he realized his own need of a
redeemer and if he was ready to trust Christ as his own Savior. I saw his
countenance fall and the guilt in his face. But his reply was a strong
"no." In the days that followed he was quiet and often I felt that he was
avoiding me, until I got a phone call and it was Charles. He wanted to know where to
look in the New Testament for some verses that I had given him about
salvation. I gave him the reference to several passages and asked if I could meet
with him. He declined my offer and thanked me for the scripture. I could
tell that he was greatly troubled, but I did not know where he was or how to help him.
Because he was training for the Olympic games, Charles had special privileges at the
University pool facilities. Some time between 10:30 and 11:00 that evening he
decided to go swim and practice a few dives. It was a clear night in October and the
moon was big and bright. The University pool was housed under a ceiling of glass panes so
the moon shone
bright across the top of the wall in the pool area. Charles climbed to the
highest platform to take his first dive.
At that moment the Spirit of God began to convict him of his sins. All the scripture
he had read, all the occasions of witnessing to him about Christ flooded his mind.
He stood on the platform backwards to make his dive, spread his arms to
gather his balance, looked up to the wall and saw his own shadow caused by the light of
the moon. It was the shape of a cross. He could bear the burden of his sin no longer. His
heart broke and he sat down on the platform and asked God to forgive him and save him.
He trusted Jesus Christ twenty some feet in the air.
Suddenly, the lights in the pool area came on. The attendant had come in to check the pool.
As Charles looked down from his platform he saw an empty pool which had been
drained for repairs. He had almost plummeted to his death, but the cross had stopped him
from disaster.
1 Corinthians 1:18 -
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but
unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (KJV)
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