In the fresh, cool morning hours a strong swimmer headed boldly out to sea. Every stroke put the shore at a greater distance.
Being young and healthy he never thought of danger as he swam. At last, getting a little tired, he rested a moment and thought of returning. Then he found he had been carried out far beyond what he had intended.
He struck out for land but now found the current against him and he could make very little headway. Still, he struggled on until he was utterly exhausted, then turned over on his back, and gave himself up for lost.
He had been brought up as a Christian, and had even preached the gospel on occasion. But with death before him, he found he was not ready to die! One thing was lacking: he had no link with Christ! He was not saved!
He felt he had preached a Christ he had never known, and had told others of a salvation he had not known himself! He now saw his past life and all his good works at their true value as "dead works." Hebrews 9:1414How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:14).
It was not his body, but his soul, that concerned him now, and there on the waves, alone with God, he cried: "Lord, save me, or I perish!" As he cried, the answer came into his mind: "Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin."
He then prayed, "Lord, I believe that precious blood was shed for me." Life and peace came to his soul and then he lost consciousness.
"Father! Father! Look ahead! What is that on the water? It looks like a man," said the son of the skipper of a fishing boat. The father looked. He sprang to the wheel, calling out, "Let's go, son!"
Turning the boat around they headed for him as fast as the old boat would go. The skipper saw the body sink once and rise again nearer to the boat. It sank a second time, and this time he hoped it might rise near enough for them to grab him. And it did rise within reach.
With strong arms they lifted the apparently lifeless body into the boat and used every means in their power to restore life. Willing hands carried the living man ashore—living now in two ways, for he possessed now not only a natural life, but an eternal life. (1 John 5:1313These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:13))
A week later he was able to come back to that same fishing boat to thank them for what they had done for him, and to speak to them now of Jesus, the Savior that he had come to know. A number of the fishermen there were turned to the Lord by his personal testimony.
"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." Romans 5:66For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6). May God open your eyes, too, to see your need, so that a cry will come from your heart: "Lord, save me, for I perish!"
Jesus Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ is God manifest in flesh. There is divine dignity and majesty in every word that came from those sacred lips. If we refuse to believe Him, we make Him a liar!