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Themes: "There is only one right way, Limited Opportunity AJH Seven years before, he had lost his right arm in the Civil War battle at Shiloh. Now John Wesley Powell was doing what few one armed people can do. He was an explorer and a rock climber.
It was 1869 and he was head of an exploration party. Powell was in charge of a nine man party which was exploring the Colorado River and its tributaries. Eventually, he would gain the fame of being the first to lead his party through the Grand Canyon.
Yet this day was almost the last day of his life. As he and a companion were scaling a mountain 800 feet above the river, he saw a place to put his feet. He made a short jump to the spot. He realized too late that he was trapped. He could not get back. He could not climb up or down.
He quickly shouted to his companion who was able to get to a ledge above him. But Powell was trapped. With his only hand, he clung to the wall of rock. But his strength was failing. How long could he hold on?
The man above, George Bradley, wondered what he could do to save his friend. Suddenly he decided on a daring attempt. He took his clothes and made a rope by tying them together. Then he lowered the rope as close to Powell as he could. The rope of clothes dangled several feet away from Powell. To go for the rope meant that he would have to let go of the rock. If he missed the rope, he would fall to his death.
He realized that he had only one chance. He let go and made a life or death leap for the clothes rope. With his one hand he frantically grasped for the dangling rope. He caught it! Slowly Bradley pulled him to the ledge. He was saved.
Rahab realized that she had only one chance at getting God's salvation. The city was doomed and judgment was nearing. She made one life or death struggle to get saved. Years latter, another man in Jericho named Zaccheus, also realized that this was his last chance to be saved. He too made a desperate attempt to get God's salvation. That's why God says, "Strive to enter in at the straight gate" (Luke 13:24).
Rahab had to take sides with God against her friends and all the city. Yet she knew that safety for her soul was only found in God. Had she waited for another chance she never would have been saved. "Behold now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of Salvation" (2 Cor 6:1,2).
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Peter Orasuk
