WELL was it for the Danemark and her freight of human souls that the Missouri hove in sight on the afternoon of the 4th of April, 1889. The sudden breaking of the shaft had torn a hole in the ship’s bottom, causing her to leak in a way that sent dismay into the hearts of all on board. Many hundred miles from land, in a sinking vessel, no sail in sight, the ship gradually subsiding, with 735 precious lives in his charge, was a gloomy enough outlook for the Danemark’s captain. What was to be done? A gale blowing heavily, it seemed utterly impracticable to lower the boats; every moment the hungry waves threatened to engulf the ill-fated vessel. Promptly the captain decided upon his course of action.
“We must put out a signal of distress, and wait for succor from some passing ship.”
Dear reader, have you ever, in the history of your SOUL, found yourself in similar circumstances? The helpless and perilous position of the Danemark may fitly illustrate the condition of one who has been awakened to a sense of his need and guilt in the presence of a holy God. A case or two may be cited as instances in the New Testament. In Luke 18:10-1410Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (Luke 18:10‑14) we read of a poor, broken-hearted publican, whose deep self-abasement would not permit him to “lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven.” He had learned his need, and he had only one resource; if that failed him, all was over. “God be merciful to ME THE SINNER.” Could such an appeal be made in vain? NEVER. Listen to the grand sequel, “This man went down to his house JUSTIFIED.”
Acts 16 speaks of a jailer at Philippi, who, in his dire extremity, was ready to terminate his existence; he too, like the publican, was fully awakened to his deep need; but, unlike him, he saw no ray of hope to lighten up the gloom that enshrouded his soul. And was he left to die in dark despair? Ah! no. His need was anticipated and met from a quarter he little expected. A heart of infinite love was working out His purposes of grace towards this poor captive of Satan. “Do thyself no harm: for we are all here,” say the Lord’s messengers. “What must I do to be SAVED?” is the agonizing cry from the depths of a convicted conscience. Swiftly and sweetly comes the heaven-directed message, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be SAVED.”
But perhaps the reader has not yet been brought to this point; you have sailed smoothly along life’s ocean; you have met with no storms; you see no danger ahead; the horizon looks bright and fair. But stay. Did the captain of the Danemark anticipate such an ending to his voyage when his vessel left her moorings at Copenhagen? Surely not. Was he not provided with chart, compass, and rudder? Were not his sails, steering-gear and rigging all in trim condition when he put out to sea? Without doubt. And yet his ship became a total wreck. Perhaps he thought he was prepared for every emergency; if so, what a mistake he made. When the deafening crash of the falling shaft fell upon his ear, how quickly he awoke to the fact that he was in terrible jeopardy. And may there not be, dear unsaved reader, in your life’s voyage, unforeseen possibilities against which you have never made provision? Remember that you and I have to render an account of ourselves to God. (Rom. 14:1212So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:12)). Will your past history bear the keen scrutiny of His holy eye? for “God requireth that which is past.” (Eccl. 3:1515That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past. (Ecclesiastes 3:15)). What about that accumulated load of sins from your childhood upwards? Sins of thought and word and deed, all faithfully chronicled by an unerring hand. Ah! friend, you are a SINNER, and as such deserve JUDGMENT, “for the wages of sin is DEATH.” (Rom. 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)). You need deliverance, you need a Saviour; and it is that your heart may be attracted to yonder “Man in the glory” we thus seek to bring your true condition before you.
After many hours of agonizing suspense the Danemark’s crew beheld, to their joy, a steamer making rapidly towards them. The strangers quickly perceived that if a rescue was to be effected no time was to be lost. Swiftly, as brave and willing hands could swing them, the Missouri’s boat put out to the rescue. Although a heavy sea was running, and the task seemed almost a hopeless one, the seamen labored on with a will. Many a tough battle they had with the angry waves; still they persevered; now in a deep chasm of the sea, next moment on the foaming crest of a huge billow. Again and again the little craft plowed its way through the surging waters, until all the occupants of the sinking vessel were safe on the steamer’s deck. The rescue was effected without a mishap; all honor to the noble men who, in the face of such immense difficulties, succeeded in saving so many of their fellow-creatures from a watery grave.
And now, dear reader, have you acted as wisely as the Danemark’s captain did when once he fully realized his position? Have you learned that your case as a sinner is so desperate, that unless you meet with a powerful Deliverer you must inevitably PERISH? for, let me tell you, this is the plain, unvarnished truth. The peril of that emigrant ship was great, but it was as nothing to yours. Your weal or woe for eternity is trembling in the balance. Are you prepared to face that storm of judgment which will presently sweep over this guilty world on account of its sin and its rejection of God’s Son? Who will shield you from its pitiless blast? Oh, be wise! “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near.” (Isa. 55:66Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: (Isaiah 55:6)). Hoist your signal of distress, dear unsaved one. Jesus, the Friend of the friendless, the Saviour of sinners, is ready, able and willing to save you this very moment. He has borne sin’s judgment in His own person on Calvary’s tree, and God is thus FREE to dispense GRACE “through RIGHTEOUSNESS unto ETERNAL LIFE by Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 5:2121That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:21)). “Be it known unto you... that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him ALL THAT BELIEVE are justified from all things.” (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)).
G. F. E.