THE SCENE - U.S. ROUTE 220 a few miles south of Keyser, West Virginia. Roaring north on the twisting highway, he failed to negotiate a curve in the road - the tree was large, it was all over in less than one second!

From a scientific report, let me give you a slow motion, split second reconstruction of what happens when an automobile, traveling at 55 miles per hour, crashes into a solid, immovable object.

ONE TENTH OF A SECOND - The front bumper and chrome trim of the grillwork collapse. Slivers of steel penetrate the tree to a depth of one-and-one-half inches or more.

TWO TENTHS OF A SECOND - The hood crumples as it rises, smashing into the windshield. Spinning rear wheels leave the ground. The fenders come in contact with the tree, forcing the rear parts out over the front doors. The heavy structural members of the car begin to act as a brake on the terrific forward momentum of the car - but the driver's body continues to move forward at the vehicle's original speed (twenty times the normal force of gravity, his body weighs 3,200 pounds). His legs, ramrod-straight, snap at the knee joints.

THREE TENTHS OF A SECOND - The driver's body is now off the seat, torso upright, broken knees pressing against the dashboard. The plastic and steel frame of the steering wheel begins to bend under his terrific death-grip. His head is now near the sunvisor, his chest above the steering column.

FOUR TENTHS OF A SECOND - The car's front 24 inches have been demolished, but the rear-end is still traveling at an estimated speed of 35 miles per hour. The driver's body is still traveling 55 miles per hour. The half-ton motor block crunches into the tree. The rear-end of the car, like a bucking horse, rises high enough to scrape the bark off the low branches.

FIVE TENTHS OF A SECOND - The driver's fear-frozen hands bend the steering column into an almost vertical position. The force of gravity impales him on the steering shaft. Jagged steel punctures lung and inter-costal arteries. Blood spurts into his lungs.

SIX TENTHS OF A SECOND - The driver's feet are ripped from his tightly-laced shoes. The brake pedal shears off at the floor boards. The chassis bends in the middle, shearing body bolts. The driver's head smashes into the windshield. The rear of the car begins its downward fall, spinning rear wheels digging into the ground.

SEVEN TENTHS OF A SECOND - The entire writhing body of the car is forced out of shape. Hinges tear, doors spring open. In one last convulsion, the seat rams forward, pinning the driver against the cruel steel of the steering shaft. Blood leaps from his mouth, shock has frozen his heart. He is now dead. Time elapsed - seven tenths of a second!

LIFE'S UNCERTAINTY

As necessary as the automobile is, yet it is an instrument of death for over 55,000 people yearly in the United States. Every time anyone of us enters a car we could well say what God says, "Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth" (Proverbs 27:1). Yes, it's true, "ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away" (James 4:14). Automobile related deaths average one every ten minutes in the U.S.A. You have no written guarantee that you will be alive tomorrow.

A BIG QUESTION

Let me ask you a big question. When a car crashes and the occupant's body dies - where does that person go? The Holy Bible asks the same question. "But man dieth... yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?" (Job 14:10). What a tremendous question for you to consider, my friend! God declares, "it is appointed unto men once to die" (Hebrews 9:27). However, most have no idea how and when they will die. Seeing that life is so uncertain and that death can be instantaneous, wouldn't it be wise for you to give the big question of your eternal destiny some serious consideration? God says, "A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished" (Proverbs 22:3). In other words, wise people seek out God's way of salvation.

GOD'S REMEDY - THE ONLY ANSWER

If not saved (born again), you are not ready to meet God. If death should overtake you in an unprepared state, you would leave your body and depart this earth only to open your eyes in hell, to be lost forever (Luke 16:19-31)! This calamity can be avoided! God desires you to be saved, to go to heaven and not to hell (I Timothy 2:4). The Lord says, "Prepare to meet thy God" (Amos 4:12), and you can do this by accepting the provision He has for you. God, in love to you, gave His only Son to the cruel death of the cross, that through His death you might be saved from hell and fitted for heaven. May God help you to see this truth as you read the following promises and assurances that He has given you in His Holy Word.

"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:6).

"But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

"Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him" (Romans 5:9).

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us" (Titus 3:5).

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31).