
(I would be grateful if someone could verify this
testimony) "In 1961 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 would speak 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 Saviour. 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 often I 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 it 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 bright. 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." |