ALL day the wind had been rising, so that, towards evening, the sea that had sparkled in the bright sunny morning, was tossed up and down in mountainous billows.
Most of the boats we had watched leaving the village in the morning were hurrying into the village harbor, that they might there, find shelter. It was a pretty sight to see them, sometimes singly, and sometimes three or four together, driven to and fro by the waves, until one could exclaim, “she’s safe;” and then they were securely moored and anchored, and rode side by side in the still waters. But there was one boat that had sailed out with the rest that fine morning, but which did. not return with the others.
The men on board knew the wind was rising, and that the storm would surely come; but they determined to brave it, heedless of all warning, and so they did, until the darkness came on and the deeper tones of the howling tempest compelled them to seek the refuge they had too long disregarded. The boat turned towards the village, and made straight for the harbor, in all confidence of reaching it in safety. She had reached it and was now preparing to enter the harbor, when a contrary blast drove her from it, and in a moment she was past its mouth, being driven on to the rocks that lined the coast. Now, all the exertions of the men were vain, for she was soon dashed upon the shore, a miserable and total wreck, there to lie all night exposed to the merciless fury of the angry waves.
The men in the boat knew of their danger, and they knew of the harbor. They made for the port, but they made for it too late! Their boat might have been saved, as well as the many others that filled the harbor, for it was as open to her as any; but she came too late—too late, because the blast caught her, and drove her on the dreadful rocks.
It is because the storm is brewing and the black clouds of judgment are overcasting the horizon, that God warns us to flee from the wrath to come, to the refuge He has opened for our safety. It is free to any who will now enter, and there find shelter and rest. Many persons believe this, but, nevertheless, do not take advantage of its blessings. Souls are shipwrecked, hell is filling fast with those who could have been saved, but would not come to Jesus; who would not accept God’s full and free salvation. They do not intend to be lost. Who does? But, “surely,” say they, “there is time enough yet;” and therefore they flee not to Jesus saying—
“Jesus, refuge of my soul,
Let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the raging billows roll,
While the tempest still is high.”
For God has declared of Him: A Man shall be as a hiding-place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest.
ML 12/16/1906