Some years ago a ship was wrecked on the coast of Africa. Everyone on board was drowned but one sailor boy, who was washed to the shore barely living. He was picked up and lay bruised and suffering for weeks on a sickbed.
He was visited by a young man who tried to lead the sailor lad to Christ who died for sinners. “Suppose,” said the young Christian, “that when your vessel was smashed to pieces, and you were sinking, exhausted, and unable to save yourself, a lifeboat came along and you were offered a safe and sure rescue, you would thank God and take the offer, would you not?”
“Yes, sir, indeed I would.”
Then he was made to understand that the invitation was being given him to accept Christ as the lifeboat and the only protection from the storm that was coming.
Many years rolled away, and the Christian missionary toiled on, mile, and miles from the coast of Africa, in the heart of a northern city. One day he was again in a sickroom. Everything showed that it was also a room ready for death. The nurses and the doctor moved about so swiftly, and yet silently and solemnly. The sufferer was nearly gone. The visitor stepped over to the bed, and true to his calling, bent down and whispered to the dying man,
“Is it well with your soul?”
There was a sudden glance of the eye, and a smile of recognition—such a smile!
“God bless you, sir! The lifeboat holds—still holds! It is well with my soul.”
Yes it was the same sailor, just about the end of the journey, but his, trust was in the Lord Jesus Christ and he was safe for eternity.
Without Christ you will become a wreck, and be lost in the blackness of darkness forever. With Christ as your Saviour, you can join in that heavenly note of praise, “Unto Him that loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,.. to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever.” Revelation 1:5, 6.
ML 12/10/1950