The Elevator Failure

​TITLE: The Elevator Failure
DATE: December 12, 2018
TEXT: Psalm 30:3-4 (ESV) 3  O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit. 4  Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name.

On Chicago’s Magnificent Mile sits a skyscraper.

Once it was known as the John Hancock Center, but since February of this year the “Hancock Center” simply goes by the building’s address 875 North Michigan Avenue. It should be noted the name change does not affect the fact that the building is the 33rd tallest in the world and it has North America’s fastest elevators.

I wonder how many people, having looked out the observation windows at the four states which are visible on a clear day, have some trepidation getting on that ultra-fast elevator. How many of them ask, ‘What is going to happen to me if one of the cables break? I wonder if there is a backup system to catch me before I hit the bottom?”

Well, Daily Devotioners, now we have an answer to these deep and dark questions.

We know because a few weeks ago six visitors got on the elevator at the 95th floor. They pushed the buttons for their destination and prepared themselves for the queasy-stomach, ear-popping ride to their desired floors. That is what should have happened… it is what has happened every day since the building was finished in 1968.

Of course, none of those other elevator rides had a broken cable.

This one did. As a result, the elevator which normally is extremely fast began to descend faster than any of them expected; faster than they thought possible; faster than they wanted to go. They passed the 85th floor…the 75th, the 65th. They were still in freefall mode when they shot past the 55th floor, the 45th floor, and the 35th floor. They passed the 25th floor like they had been shot from a cannon, and the 15th floor became an instantaneous memory.

It was only when they arrived at the 11th floor that a backup system put the brakes on their elevator car and saved the six from squishing out on the bottom of the shaft. So now we have an answer to our questions: for example, we know if the right cable breaks you are going to be in for the thrill of a lifetime. We also know that the folks who designed the elevator incorporated safety measures… safety measures which have shown themselves to be effective

Now I wonder if the Lord has designed His plan of salvation using backup safety measures for the protection of believers? What will happen if His design to rescue us from sin, Satan and death were to have some kind of catastrophic failure?

The answer to those questions is a simple one.

Scripture is clear there is no backup plan to the Savior’s sacrifice. That is because Jesus’ birth, life, death, burial and resurrection IS the backup plan to the perfect universe God originally set into motion at creation. When humankind ruined God’s gift, His mercy and grace were reflected in His promise to send Jesus to be our Substitute.

And when it comes to the possibility of failure…  look at the passage above.

The Lord’s plan is perfect. It reaches out to all sinners and provides forgiveness to every soul who is given faith.  There is no need for wiggle-room; no need for a back-up plan. From Alpha to Omega, the Lord has taken care of us.
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THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, while I am thankful for those six who were saved from the falling elevator, I am even more grateful that You have saved me. Because of the Savior, my soul once destined for hell, has been saved. In Jesus I give thanks. Amen.
 
Today’s devotion was inspired by various articles, amongst which is the one written by Josh Gardner for Newser on November 20, 2018 . Those who wish may check out this link which was, at the time of writing, fully active:  http://www.newser.com/story/267458/6-people-stranded-in-elevator-were-rescued-through-a-wall.html
 
The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann, one of my long-ago  confirmands. He is singing with three brothers. This song comes from the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html