There were country villages all along the shore of the pretty river, and for those who shopped or worked in town, the best and cheapest way to get there was by boat. The service was frequent and relaxing, and there were many passengers.
Stanley was a Christian man with too much good news to keep to himself. What about all those boat travelers, hurrying on in life and not thinking about their unforgiven sins? The boat trip might be the only time they have to listen, he had thought.
Stanley watched the boat pull up to shore. There was not really a dock at this point, but just a spot where they threw down a plank for boarding. It took some balancing to walk the plank to get on the boat. Just as Stanley was within grabbing distance of the boat, the plank flipped into the river and left him clinging by his fingertips to the side of the boat. Willing hands pulled him up and over, and he sat down on a bench, feeling rather shaky.
At this point he felt the need of a little encouragement and was glad when a Christian friend on the boat saw him and asked if he could help. Stanley told him he had come to tell the passengers about the Lord Jesus, but the friend quickly disappeared and left him alone. He was disappointed.
Then suddenly the friend returned. “The captain has given his permission. He said there is a room below you may use to talk to the passengers.”
Very good. Gospel talks usually begin with singing, because it is a happy way for Christians to announce the good news. Other passengers heard the singing and came, and Stanley preached the message: “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man [the risen Saviour] is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:38-3938Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38‑39)).
Some of the travelers had a short trip on the boat, but as they left new ones took their places, so there were many who heard the wonderful news: forgiven and justified — just by believing in the risen Saviour whose precious blood cleanses from all sin.
We have the same good news for you today. But you will notice that there is a negative in that verse. There are some who are NOT justified. There are some who will NOT believe, and there are some who are trying to be justified by keeping the law of Moses, including the ten commandments. It doesn’t work. It can’t be done. Being forgiven and justified depends upon believing in Christ Jesus whom God raised from the dead.
Stanley’s message was 20 miles long, as the boat made its entire trip down the river. Many who heard the good news that day received it by faith and shared it with others in their area.
Forgiven and justified! Are you? Find Acts 13 in your Bible and read verses 4041 if you wish to find out what happens to those who do not receive this message. Is it important to you?
ML-10/31/1999