Three fishermen from a different part of the country traveled to the Sol Duc to go steelhead fishing. The Sol Duc River has its origin in the snow-capped peaks in Washington’s Olympic Mountains and then descends very swiftly, winding through valleys, tumbling over boulders, and racing through rapids before it empties into the sea. The name Sol Duc comes from the Quileute Indian words meaning “sparkling water.” The river is home to the prized game fish called the steelhead. The steelhead spends most of its life in the ocean and then swims upstream in the river where it was born. It puts up a huge fight when hooked, giving a sport fisherman a real thrill.
The men shoved off in a drift boat loaded with fishing tackle and ice coolers with high hopes of an exciting trip. The three were experienced fishermen, but they had never negotiated the Sol Duc before, and they had decided against hiring a guide. A drift boat is a type of row boat with high, steep sides and a curved bottom designed especially for drifting down fast-flowing rivers. These boats don’t need motors, since the current carries them swiftly downstream. A man standing or sitting in the middle of the boat and pulling on the oars can guide the boat away from rocks or fallen trees.
The trio of fishermen had looked forward to their trip with great anticipation; however, recent rains and melting snow had swollen the river into a wild mass of brown, churning, racing water. Once they entered the main stream, they had the uncomfortable feeling that they might have “bitten off more than they could chew.”
They drifted with the strong current for several miles, looking for a smooth stretch of water where they might begin casting. They entered a series of rapids called the “Double Run” for the double rows of boulders which obstruct the river. Pulling on the oars, they tried to avoid the rocks and stay in the mid-stream, which seemed like the safest path. Many of the boulders remained hidden just beneath the surface of the roiling water. The drift boat suddenly lurched sideways and, with a jolt, smashed up against a giant boulder. Water rushed over the sides of the boat, swamping it and carrying away equipment. The boat didn’t sink because it had become firmly lodged between some rocks. The men held on for their lives. Surveying the situation, they judged the current would carry them away if they tried to wade through the chest deep water to shore, so they wisely decided to stay with the boat. After a couple of uneasy hours of sitting in the swamped boat, another boat came down the river. This boat was manned by an experienced river guide. He called for help on his cell phone to another fishing guide service. Soon another boat was on the scene. This second guide brought along a coil of strong rope. They threw the rope to the stranded men and stretched it tightly between the drift boat and shore. Clinging to the rope, the stranded fishermen were able to wade to the safety of the shore. The men were not able to retrieve their boat, but they were deeply relieved no one had died or been seriously injured in the incident.
Larry Thomas, one of the fishing guides who helped in the rescue, had this to say: “These guys didn’t know the river, and that is why they got into trouble. The number-one thing I’ve learned in twenty-five years up here is that you need to know the river before you try to row the Sol Duc, because it is just a different animal.”
For a moment, I would like you to stop and consider that life is like a swiftly flowing river with windings, rapids, and submerged obstacles. Larry Thomas’s advice — to know the river — is excellent advice for humankind as they journey through life. By “knowing the river,” a person can avoid pitfalls and dangers and arrive safely at the journey’s end.
“Know the river.” It is important to know that all life originates with God. He is the Maker of all things. See the beautiful order, the incredible variety, and the way things work and fit together. They are proof of His unerring power and master craftsmanship. God is the source of all life in that He gives life to all things and holds the breath of every living thing in His hands. He made man, too, and made him a very special creation by giving him a spirit. This quality makes man so like his Creator that it is said, “God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him” (Genesis 1:2727So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (Genesis 1:27)). Since man has a rational mind, he can look at the natural wonders of the world that surround him and, by his spirit, arrive at the conclusion that an all-wise, all-powerful God must have created him. The Book of Romans in the Bible says it this way: “Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God has showed it unto them. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:19-2019Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. 20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (Romans 1:19‑20)). All men have sinned and been wrecked on the rocks and rapids of life. Our condition is so dangerous that we cannot save ourselves. Like the men stuck midstream in the river, we need someone to come and save us. Such a Saviour has come in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. By His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave, He stretched a line from our sin-wrecked condition to the safety of heaven’s shore. By taking hold of the offer of salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we can avoid being swept away to the destruction that is ahead of sinners who reject the Saviour.
“Know the river.” The Sol Duc is a relatively short river, running only seventy-eight miles before it empties into the sea. Life, too, is short. The average lifetime of an American male is, coincidently, seventy-eight years also, but no one is guaranteed they will live to old age. Life, at best, is uncertain. One lifetime is what God has given to every person to make the all-important decision to trust Christ. Therefore, the only wise course of action is to take hold of Jesus Christ and the salvation He offers right now. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Putting off the decision to trust in the Saviour till a future date may make you forever too late.
“Know the river.” Although the river is short, it empties into the vast expanse of the ocean, and the same is true of our lives and eternity. After a relatively short life, each man or woman will pass into the vast expanse of eternity. Those who have repented of their sins and taken hold of the Saviour will pass into an eternity of bliss where all sorrow and suffering will be replaced by unclouded joy. God is not willing that any man should perish, but those who reject His help will be swept away into everlasting darkness. The Bible uses words like “everlasting torment,” “destruction,” and “punishment” to describe the place where the unrepentant will spend eternity. It is a place to avoid at all costs.
Trusting in the One who came to save, a person can ride through the river of life with God’s richest blessings and find the expanse of heaven at their journey’s end. For the good of your never-dying soul, take hold of God’s salvation through Christ!