YEARS ago when pirates roamed over the seas between the Southern States and the Spanish Main, the brig Nancy was pursued by H.M.S. Sparrow. The Nancy was strongly suspected of being engaged in illegal trade and piracy, but when captured not a scrap of evidence could be found among her papers. It was thought that she would have to be released, but the question was referred to the authorities at Kingston, Jamaica, into which port she was brought.
Meanwhile, another vessel called the Abergavenny had been cruising in the same waters. One day, off the coast of Haiti, the officer in charge noticed a dead bullock surrounded by sharks. He gave orders for the bullock to be towed alongside the boat, and by this means men succeeded in catching one of the sharks. It proved to be an unusually large one, and where opened, a parcel of papers, tied around with string, was discovered in its stomach.
These papers were found to relate to the ship called the Nancy, and thinking that they might serve a useful purpose, the officer preserved them until he reached Kingston, which was his next port of call. He arrived there just as the case of the Nancy came before the authorities.
Imagine the surprise of the Nancy’s captain and crew, when, jubilant at the prospect of release, they were suddenly confronted by papers containing indisputable evidence of their misdeeds, papers which they had thrown overboard when pursued by the ship of war, and which they fancied were buried in the depths of the sea. These papers are to be seen to this day in a glass frame in the Institute of Jamaica, in the city of Kingston. The head of the shark, which swallowed the papers, lies in the United Service Museum, London, England.
Imagine likewise the consternation of an unsaved sinner, when sins, committed long ago and forgotten, as well as sins concealed but unforgotten, find him out and confront him!
Does not the thought of it urge you, dear reader, to flee for refuge to the Saviour? The sins of those who trust in Him will never be brought up again, and will never he charged to their account. God has not only forgiven them but has declared that He will remember them no more. They were laid upon the Saviour. He bore them on Calvary’s cross, and willingly took them and answered for them beneath the rod of the sin-hating God.
But for those who neglect God’s great salvation, what remains? In God’s Word we read: “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works... And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Rev. 20:12, 1512And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (Revelation 20:12)
15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15).
ML-09/11/1960