R.P.

"We do not want you here," said the message from Red Cloud, the great Indian chief. "You are scaring away the buffalo."

But the men working on the railroad didn't stop. They wanted to build a great railroad that would go from Omaha, Nebraska all the way to Sacramento, California. Mile after mile of track began to stretch across the prairie.

One old Indian woman had an idea. She hitched her pony to a rail and started pulling it up. Together they wrecked about a half of a mile of track before they were chased away.

The work went on, but it was dangerous and hard. There were mountains and deserts to cross, cold and bitter winters, and angry Indians that often attacked. Millions of dollars were spent and hundreds of men died.

Finally, on May 10, 1869, the last spike - a spike of pure gold - was put in place. The message was sent out over telegraph wires: "Done!" The great railroad was finished.

Thousands of men worked on this railroad so people could get to California. The Bible tells us that one Man, all by Himself, did something even greater. The Lord Jesus Christ has made a way for people to get to heaven - and as He said on the cross, "IT IS FINISHED."

Can you use your imagination a minute with me? Let's suppose that after the railroad was all done, we see a man in Omaha. His horse is pulling a wagon loaded with railroad ties, rails, and spikes. "Whoa!" he shouts to his horse just as we walk up. He begins tossing things out on the ground, and soon has quite a pile. Then he starts to work away with a shovel, smoothing out the ground.

"What are you doing, sir?" we ask. "Oh, heading for California," he answers. "Going by train. Gotta do my part, you know." "But the railroad is finished!" we say in amazement. "Why don't you just get on the train?"

Of course, that's ridiculous. Nobody would be so silly as to try to build their own railroad to California - especially when the work is already done. And since Jesus has finished the work that can save us, we would be foolish to think that we have to do part of the work, too. The Bible tells us that on the cross He said, "It is finished". Nothing can be added to what He has done.

In Ephesians 2 we are also told that it is "by grace" and "not of works" that God is able to save us.

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