The Divine Plan for Humanity

It is reported that an incident occurred in 1937 that provides some insight into understanding the sacrifice our Heavenly Father made when He allowed His Son's life to become the cost required to save a world lost in rebellion. Whether the incident actually occurred or if its source emanates from an allegory dating back to the early twentieth century is not as important as the message it brings. We know God is capable of emotion as scripture declares  'for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life'. God is capable of great love and therefore is clearly capable of emotions as we understand them.

THE STORY

A bridge operator by the name of John Griffin became the center of an incident so painful to tell that I am partly hesitant to even recount its details. It occurred on a bridge crossing the Mississippi River one midday as an operator went about his regular responsibilities. The bridge was raised to allow ships to pass on the river where after it would be brought down to provide safe passage for trains to again cross the great river.

John's 8 year old son was excited as the day arrived when he could tag along with his dad to see what he did.  Together they took the picnic lunch mom had packed and headed for the river. Upon arrival, the young boy watched excitedly as his dad checked and double checked the controls and mechanisms that raised or lowered the giant sections. Throughout the morning the young boy watched proudly as his 'daddy' performed the duties that gave safe passage to the river or rail traffic.

Around noon, the dad took his son's hand as they carefully crossed the observation deck to sit under a large tree where they would eat their lunch. John watched closely as they walked across the wood walkway. There was one section that crossed over the dangerous wheels and gears that was particularly precarious.

Dad and son sat enjoying their sandwiches when a sudden whistle shriek broke the silence bringing them back to reality. John jumped to his feet realizing time had slipped by. The express from Memphis, carrying 400 passengers, was approaching with the bridge still raised for river traffic. 

The young father quickly instructed his boy to wait under the lunch tree as he ran to lower the section for the train with its 400 passengers. As it stood the train would plummet into the mighty Mississippi with total loss of life. The little fellow smiled bravely at his dad as he took another bite of the sandwich his mom had prepared that morning...this was simply the best day imaginable, seeing his dad perform his important responsibilities. The stories he would be able to relay to his friends when they came home at the end of the day!

John's mind raced as he focused on the control room and what he knew needed to be done when he arrived. With his breathing heavy, finally reached the door to the control room where he needed to do a quick check of the monitors that would bring the bridge down. After completing the standard check, he placed his hand on the control lever to lower the raised section when his heart suddenly stopped. Coming from the area he had just crossed he  heard the distant cry of a small child. He spun around as he looked through the glass window...at that moment John saw the worst fear he could imagine. 

His little boy had followed to watch his dad lower the bridge but the precarious section had proven too much for him to cross alone. He had slipped over the side, coming to land with his little leg being wedged between the teeth of the gears.

Again the shrill pitch of the Memphis Express and its commuters called for John to provide them safe passage. The young father operator knew that if the bridge was not lowered, all 400 passengers would be lost in the forever.

John Griffin's heart broke as the tears streamed down his face.

Slowly he reached forward.  As he pushed the lever to save the passengers he would never know, he knew it would require the life of a little boy who loved and trusted him above all others.

John limp body slumped over the controls as the train rushed over the bridge...in the compartments, the passengers moved around oblivious to the pain of the broken man lying across the control counter.

"For God so loved the world..." 
John 3 V 16