In The Shadow
~ Unknown
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 spoke 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 I often 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 right. 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.
"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)
~ 1 Corinthians 1:18
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