It was a beautiful day when a party of tourists set out to make an ascent of Mount Snowdon the loftiest mountain in the British Isles. On the way, one of their number left the party in order to attempt an unusual way up the northern ridge. He was an experienced mountaineer. After a long and arduous climb along the almost sheer face of the rocks, he found himself in a spot where he could neither advance nor retreat. He became desperately afraid, and rightly so. To add to his danger, a dense mist rose up from the valley and closed in around him. He shouted for help in vain as the fog muffled his cries, which were answered only by a terrible silence.

The climber clung to the sheer face of the rocks until his hands and feet were numbed and his muscles ached with the terrible strain of maintaining his precarious hold. Death stared him in the face. He might fall at any moment and be dashed to pieces on the rocks below. Would help never come? The minutes seemed like hours and his strength was fast leaving him.

Then the mist began to clear away and the climber heard a voice above him. What a relief it was to see a rope lowered within his grasp. How carefully he slipped the noose over his shoulder and under his arms before being drawn to the top by the rescue party. After a long rest, they descended to the warmth and comfort of the hotel.

As they descended the mountain, the climber saw painted in bold letters on the face of a rock, "John 3:16." Out of curiosity, he got a Bible at the hotel and opened it to this text: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." The words meant little to him, except for "should not perish," which stood out because of his recent close call with death.

The next day was Sunday, and his friends set out to spend the day on the hills. The climber decided to rest after his terrifying and exhausting experience. While out for a leisurely walk, he came upon a little church where several were going in. Not knowing why, he, too went in. The text that day was, "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms" (Deut. 33:27). After the events of the day before,, the message seemed to be especially suited for the climber.

After the service, he walked along a stream and the words, "should not perish" and "underneath are the everlasting arms" kept floating into his mind. Then as he crossed a field he met the preacher who said, "Wonderful view," as he pointed to the magnificent Snowdon mountain range in the distance.

"Yes," replied the climber, "only yesterday I very nearly lost my life there. I was trapped on the face of the rocks."

"How did you escape?" inquired the preacher.

"I was discovered just in time and hauled up but it was a near thing. Somehow your text today just met my circumstances."

With this opening, the man of God spoke of the Lord's care and goodness and then went on to speak of the awful consequences of sin and the price the Saviour paid to save us from sin's punishment.

"Ah!" said the climber, "John 3:16. I saw that written on the rock as I came down yesterday."

"Yes, you are not the only one who has seen that text only to learn of God's great love for sinful man and the price He paid, even the gift of His only begotten Son who suffered on the cross of Calvary for our redemption."

The message went home. The climber's heart was touched, and he opened it to the wonderful message of John 3:16 by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. Tens of thousands have been blessed by that verse. Why not you, dear reader? "God so loved the world." That includes ever man, woman and child in it, of every race, color and condition. "Whosoever" opens the door wide for you. Will you enter in? The issue lies plainly before you, either to perish or to possess everlasting life. The blessing may be yours now as you read these lines. Believe on God's Son now and receive life forever.

—A.J.P.