Off the coast of Cornwall the ship had struck a rock and was sinking fast. Boats were lowered in a rush, and all the men had scrambled into them. The captain and mate were the only ones remaining on board. The men shouted to them to leap for a boat. The captain did and was safe, but the mate suddenly stopped and cried, “Wait a minute! I’ve forgotten my purse!”
Racing for the cabin, he was only gone a minute, but that minute was fatal. The ship, with the mate still aboard, plunged beneath the waves.
The shore was reached with difficulty, but all were saved except the poor mate. His body was retrieved a few days afterwards, and his dead hand still clutched the purse for which he had lost his life. When opened, the purse was found to contain only 35 cents. That was all. The mate had lost his life for 35 cents!
Before you exclaim, “What a fool,” ask yourself, “Is my soul saved?” And if not, for what am I losing it? What trifle keeps me from salvation? Is it pleasure or some beloved sin?
Remember, at this moment you are either lost or saved. Either you have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as your own personal Saviour, or you are among those of whom Scripture says, “Without Christ.” If without Christ when you reach the end of your life-journey, you must die “without hope.” And for what? Millions of dollars on earth will not be worth 35 cents in eternity.
Which shall it be—money or life everlasting? The choice is yours.
“What shall it profit a man,
if he shall gain the whole world,
and lose his own soul?
Or what shall a man give in exchange
for his soul?”