A Safe Harbor

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 6
Listen from:
The fishing schooner, Flora, was sailing toward her home port in Lunenberg County, Nova Scotia, with her hold full of fish. The men were tired and anxious to be home after their two months on the fishing banks off the coast of Newfoundland.
In rough seas about 150 miles from home both the wind and tide were against them. They could see Isaac's Harbor Light. After sailing off about ten miles and then tacking back again, they were still off Isaac's harbor. They had made no headway.
At last, Captain Fralick decided to enter Isaac's Harbor for the night. As soon as the ship entered the harbor there was calm, peace and rest. What relief from the constant motion and pounding of the sea!
Lawson, a young Christian in the crew, thought, "This is just like heaven will be after the difficulties of life."
The Lord Jesus is there already. What peace and safety we have as believers in Him! He is our anchor, already in the harbor. "We... have a strong consolation [encouragement], who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast." Heb. 6:18, 19.
It is so important, whether your life is rough or easy, to have the knowledge of this safety when life is over.
Those whose sins have been forgiven can look forward to the rest and peace of heaven. Lawson is now an old man. He has weathered many a storm of life, yet he looks on with confidence to that home above, the Father's house. What calm—what peace—what rest await us there!
Oh, what pleasures there await us!
There the tempests cease to roar;
There it is that those who hate us
Can molest our peace no more;
Trouble ceases, trouble ceases
On that tranquil, happy shore.
Will you be there? How do you answer the hymn-writer's question, Will you anchor safe by the heavenly shore When life's storms are past forevermore?
"The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." Isa. 57:20, 21.
Another hymn says: Had I wealth and love in fullest measure, And a name renowned both far and near, Yet no hope beyond, no harbor waiting, Where my storm-tossed vessel I could steer, If I gained the world but lost the Savior Who endured the cross and died for me, Could then all the world afford a refuge Whither in my anguish I might flee?
"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mark 8:36.
Are you trying to gain more of this world for yourself or do you look forward with confidence to the peaceful shore of heaven—the Father's house? To be with Jesus—what joy it will be!
Which is it for you?