K.B.

One winter day in 1906, Harry Houdini, the great escape artist, was preparing to do a stunt before his followers. He planned to jump into the river from a bridge bound with handcuffs, chains, and leg irons; free himself, and swim to safety. Because it was so cold, the river had frozen over so a large hole was cut in the ice so Houdini could jump in. Crowds lined the shore hoping to catch a sight of the Great Houdini in action.

Within seconds after jumping into the icy water, Houdini freed himself from his chains. Already he could feel himself begin to get numb. As he began to swim towards the surface he suddenly realized that the curent had pushed him down stream and he no longer could find the hole. Frantically he dove down to the bottom and looked up hoping to see the hole. Nothing! He was trapped!

By now three minutes had passed and Houdini needed to breathe, but where? He again swam to the surface and between the ice and water he found a small space where air had collected. He gulped in fresh air and again dove down to continue looking for the hole. He knew he didn't have long for soon he would freeze to death in this icy grave.

Suddenly, he spotted something move. it was a rope that had been put through the hole. He grabbed the rope and pulled hard and his assistant pulled Houdini to safety. By the time he came out of the water he had been under for eight minutes.

Harry Houdini during his lifetime made many amazing escapes. Before he died in 1926, he promised he would break the chains of death and come back to life. This promise he never kept. Once a person dies, it is only God who can restore life. The Apostle Paul brought back the man who fell to his death but only through God's power could this happen. If you want to escape eternal death, God's salvation is the only way. "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation" Hebrews 2:3.

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