Here is a Powerful ~ But True Story
By Bob Hollifield
In 1967, while taking a class in Photography at the University of Cincinnati, I became acquainted with another student named Charles. He was training to be a high diver in the 1986 Summer Olympics.
Charles was very patient with me. I talked to him often and sometimes a long time about Jesus Christ and how He had saved me. Charles was not reared in a family that attended church, so all I told him was fascinating 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. His reply was a strong, "NO."In the following days, he was quiet and often I felt he was avoiding me, until I got a phone call from him. Charles wanted to know where to look in the New Testament for some verses 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 references.I could tell he was greatly troubled, but I did not know where he was or how to help him. Because he was in training for the Olympic games, Charles had special privileges at the University swimming pool facilities. Around 10:30 that evening he decided to go swim and practice a few dives. It was a clear night in October and the moon was full and bright. The University pool was housed under a ceiling of glass so the moon shone brightly across the top of the wall in the pool area. Charles climbed to the highest platform to take his first dive.At that very moment, the Spirit of God began to convict him of his sin. All the scripture he had read, all the witnessing to him about Christ flooded his mind. He stood on the platform backward to make his dive, spread his arms to maintain his balance, looked up at the wall directly in front of him and saw his own shadow from the light of the moon. His shadow was in the shape of a cross!Charles could bear the burden of his sin no longer. His heart broke and he sat down on the platform and asked God to save him. He trusted Jesus Christ some 20 feet in the air. Suddenly, the lights in the pool area came on. The attendant had come to check the pool. When Charles looked down to greet the attendant, he saw an empty pool which had been drained for repairs. He had almost dived to his death, but the cross saved his life.
Editor’s Note: Bob Hollifield is the teacher of my Sunday School Class at Westport Road Baptist Church in Louisville, KY. He is Director Marketing AAA Kentucky.