We were in real danger! Eight of us were out in a boat, on a very big lake, on a very dark night, when the motor died. It stopped and just would not restart. We were not only drifting toward the dam, which was bad enough, but a huge barge that couldn’t stop was warning us with its bright lights that we were drifting in its way!
This was our first time out in the boat, which was new to us. In our excitement at going for just a short ride, we were not properly prepared for an emergency. We had no paddle and no tools!
Life is something like that boat ride. We must be properly prepared for the journey so it will not end in disaster. The Bible tells us that the Lord Jesus loves us and will be our guide through life, if we will let Him. Drifting along without His guidance and saving power will certainly end in disaster.
And it looked like that’s where we were headed — for disaster! All eight of us know the Lord Jesus as our Saviour, and we have read verses from the Bible many times, instructing us to ask Him for help when we are in trouble. “In the day of my trouble I will call upon Thee: for Thou wilt answer me” (Psalm 86:77In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me. (Psalm 86:7)). “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:11<<To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth.>> God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1)).
We were to learn, once again, about the power of prayer. The eight of us joined together in prayer, asking the Lord Jesus to help us and preserve our lives. We know He heard us and answered that prayer. While John held the flashlight, Brad tried to make adjustments to the motor. Suddenly, that motor came to life, and we quickly turned the boat around, avoiding the dam and getting out of the path of the barge! What a relief! We were saved! And we all thanked the Lord Jesus for His powerful care over us that night.
Disaster in the boat is not the only thing the Lord Jesus has saved us from. He has saved each of us from an eternity in hell after our lives here on earth are over. Each of us in that boat has confessed to being a sinner before God and has accepted His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as Saviour. We each know that we have safety and security for all eternity.
What about you? Do you have safety and security for all eternity?
ML-10/07/2001