QUITE recently an airman left Hendon, in Middlesex, to fly to Paris. On his journey he was often enveloped in either fog or cloud. A heavy wind opposed his flight. These difficulties caused him to lose his bearings. He drifted a good deal out of his course, and to add to his anxieties his petrol was nearly exhausted. It seemed to him that he had taken his last flight. In his own words he summed up the situation, “It is finished now. It is all over.”
Unless he sighted land at once, there was nothing for him but to fall, machine and all, into the sea, and most probably perish.
Whilst in this terrible predicament his eager eyes caught sight of a dark patch, and to his relief he discovered it was the coast of France.
In referring to this joyful discovery afterward he used the words: “I would rather have had that sight just then than seen a million in gold laid at my feet.”
No attempt has been made to give an exact account of the flight in every detail, but care has been taken that in the above particulars no alteration of any material fact has been made.
The incident is so striking, and is so full of instruction, that surely no apology is needed for introducing it as an illustration.
Men are being carried along in the flight of time. In a “sort of way” men pretend that they desire to reach a certain shore. They are bound to meet with many clouds and much fog. It is often difficult to see the way. It is a common complaint with men that many unexpected things occur to disarrange their plans. Schemes are worked out. Projects are devised. Contrivances are prepared. But unexpected hindrances arise, and much ends in failure.
There is more even than this, for whilst all the preparations and projects are maturing the one most important necessity is being exhausted. Life—like the airman’s petrol—is becoming exhausted, and no certain land is in sight.
In the case before us the airman retained his senses, and he realized his danger, and was thankful beyond words for his escape. When he saw the land he did his utmost to reach it, and on landing he remarked, “Half an hour’s delay, and I had been drowned.”
Think of this! Saved by half an hour! It might even have been by minutes.
In higher matters men seem often to lose their senses, and they drift hopelessly about until they fall into the woeful abyss, and perish forever.
When the airman saw the place of safety it was more to him than the possession of untold gold! Had he fallen into the water, no gold could have saved him. His life was at stake, and the shore meant everything to him at that moment.
Is there no lesson for you and me in this man’s experience?
Do we know whither we are hastening as we are carried along on the flight of Time?
Those who wait upon the Lord may sometimes find themselves amidst a cloud of difficulties, and they may often seem befogged, but nevertheless their ears shall hear a Word behind them saying, “This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” (Isa. 30:2121And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. (Isaiah 30:21).)
The airman had to watch his compass, and look to his steering, but even then the winds carried him out of his course, for the fog confused him; but the believer is bidden to look “unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of faith,” and to “run with patience the race set before us.” (Heb. 12:1-21Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1‑2).)
The airman hoped to get to land when he started his voyage; but believers KNOW they shall, for the promise is sure and steadfast, and they are connected with Him, their Forerunner, who has entered into heaven, whither He has prepared a place for them (see Heb. 6:17-21, John 14:1-141Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 8Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? 10Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. 12Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 13And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. (John 14:1‑14)), and He will draw them safely to it.
When the airman was in danger he knew that no golden sovereigns could help him; and when men come to realize that their soul is in imminent danger of destruction they learn that no money can buy salvation. They prove the truth of the Lord’s words: “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36, 3736For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Mark 8:36‑37).)
When a man is in earnest after salvation, when he wants to be certain that he will reach the heavenly shore, then the least sight of the Lord Jesus as the Saviour able and willing to save him is worth more to him than “a million of gold laid at his feet.”
Reader! Are you resting alone on the Lord Jesus for salvation? Consider the question. Examine yourself and where your hopes are, and never rest until you can say in reality and truth, by the witnessing of the Holy Spirit, “He loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:2020I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)), and He has prepared a place for me that I may be with Him forever. (See John 14:33And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:3).)
P. I. B.