Every year thousands of gray whales make the long journey from the coast of the Baja Peninsula in Mexico to the rich feeding areas in the waters around Alaska. A gray whale was making this migration when it swam into lines that were attached to crab pots and buoys. These lines were both long and strong. The whale tried to escape the lines by rolling in the water, but its rolling only made the tangled mess of lines around its body tighter. The tangled lines made it impossible for the whale to find food, because when it tried to swim, it had to drag the buoys and crab pots along with it. The continual dragging of buoys and crab pots sapped the whale’s strength, and the chaffing of the lines cut deep gashes into the whale’s body. Every year some of these wonderful animals get caught in crab pot lines or nets of fishermen. Sadly, they usually end up dying.
Would this whale be one of them?
The whale tried the only thing it knew to do to free itself by rolling in the water, but that did not free it. It only made matters worse. Sinners who try to free themselves from their sins are just as unsuccessful. It is impossible for a sinner to cut away those tangles and knots of sin. “By the works of the law shall no flesh be justified” (Galatians 2:1616Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (Galatians 2:16)). No amount of obeying laws, good works or self-improvement could ever set a sinner free. A sinner needs the freedom only the Lord Jesus can provide. “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)). By the grace of God, the Lord Jesus Himself offers to set you free from your sins—if you are willing.
A fishing boat was cruising several miles off the southern coast of California when they spotted the distressed whale. As the boat moved closer, the crew could see that the magnificent creature was tangled and trapped in the lines. They felt sorry for it and decided to show kindness to the helpless creature by cutting it free.
The crew lashed sharp knives onto strong bamboo poles, which they had onboard. Slowly and carefully they positioned their boat alongside the huge animal. The whale stopped its slow swimming and let the boat pull alongside. Even though it was an untamed creature, it seemed to sense the fishermen were trying to help it. Several of the crew leaned over the side of the boat and, very carefully, began cutting away the lines. About an hour later when the last line was cut, the now free gray whale slowly swam in a circle around the boat, as if to say, “Thank you,” before swimming out into the freedom of the ocean.
What a sense of relief this giant, intelligent animal must have felt when it was set free! Have you felt the great relief that comes from being set free by the Lord Jesus? John 8:3636If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:36) offers this wonderful relief for any sinner still trapped in their sins: “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” You see, sinners need to be set free, because all of us have become entangled in the lines of our sins. There are no exceptions: “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)). When we sin, it’s as if a rope connected to the weights of guilt and shame gets wrapped around our hearts and acts as a drag on our lives. It blights our joys, wrecks our peace, and wounds us in the depths of our souls. “His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be [trapped] with the cords of his sins” (Proverbs 5:2222His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. (Proverbs 5:22)). And what cruel wounds those cords cause! Sin is nobody’s friend and causes shame and misery in this life and everlasting sorrow and agony in the life to come.
The Lord Jesus is able to cut away the cords of sin from the human heart, because He went to the cross and bore the punishment for sin’s awful shame. How wonderful it was that the Lord Jesus, the very Creator of the universe, would come and die in the sinner’s place! On the cross, He finished what was necessary that all who trust in Him might be forgiven and receive the gift of eternal life. “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:55But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)).
The fishermen cut the gray whale free from the lines that held it and gave back its freedom of the ocean. Boys and girls, too, need to be set free from the cords of their sins by the Lord Jesus Christ in order to be saved for a future, happy life in heaven. If you will take the Lord Jesus as your very own Saviour today, you will thank and praise Him for the rest of your days. And you will also have the promise of a home with Him in heaven.
ML-10/14/2012