It was late at night. Two men were leaving the city of Newcastle. They passed along the water-side of a beautiful valley where one of them lived. The other was his guest.
The taller, the elder of the two men, was actively engaged in Christian work in the blessings of which the people of Newcastle and the students of a nearby college mutually shared.
The work had proved too heavy for him; and he had invited his young friend, an unconverted lad, whom we will call Henry, to aid him. Together they had spent many a day supplying books and pamphlets to groups of Christian laborers who cooperated with them.
Weary with their toils, they were now returning home for a night's rest. Hitherto, not a word had been spoken to the helpful lad about his soul; but at last a fitting occasion seemed to have arrived. A quaint subject was chosen. "Henry," asked the older man, "do you know what became of 'Noah's carpenters'?”
"Noah's carpenters!" exclaimed Henry. "I didn't know that Noah had any carpenters.”
"Certainly he must have had help in building one of the largest and best-proportioned ships ever put upon the stocks. There must have been many ship-carpenters at work for a long time to have constructed such a vessel in that age. What became of them, think you, when all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened?”
"What do you mean by such a queer question?" Henry replied.
“No matter what, just now. Please answer me. And you may also tell me, if you will, what you would have done in that dreadful hour. When the storm came in its fury, and Noah's prophecies were all fulfilled, and all but the family of the 'preacher of righteousness' were about to be engulfed in those black waters. What would you have done?”
"I don't know," said Henry, in a half-thoughtful, half trifling manner. "Perhaps I would have grabbed the rudder.”
"That is human nature exactly, Henry. It would `climb up some other way' rather than enter the fold by the only door. It would `get on the rudder,' in its pride and short-sightedness, rather than go into the ark of safety. It would 'save itself,' by hanging on at the hazard of being swept away into the gulf of despair, instead of being saved by the provision of infinite love.
"But I'll tell you plainly what I mean, Henry, by `Noah's carpenters.' You have kindly and generously given me your aid, day after day, in a work through which many, I trust, will be saved. I am grateful for your help. But I greatly fear that while others will be enjoying the fruit of your labors, you will be swept away in the storm of wrath which will, by and by, beat on the heads of those who do not enter the true ark, Jesus Christ. No human device will avail for you. `Getting on the rudder' will not answer. You must be `in Christ' or you are lost. Remember 'Noah's carpenters,' and flee to the ark without delay." They reached the house and parted for the night.
Winter came. The lad entered school. He came home during vacation, and sought his Christian friend. What joy to learn that the conversation about 'Noah's carpenters' had turned Henry's thoughts to the true ark, Christ Jesus! In Him he was safe now for all eternity.
Though these imaginary "Noah's carpenters" could not but be drowned in the flood, there are a great many of the same stock still around. Those who contribute of their time and money to promote the spiritual good of others, but who personally neglect that "great salvation" are among them.
Sunday-school children, who collect for the poor, or give their pennies to send tracts and books to the destitute, or to aid the work of missions, and yet themselves remain unconverted, are like "Noah's carpenters.”
Teachers in Bible classes and Sunday-schools, who point their pupils to the Lamb of God, but do not lead the way, are like guide-posts that indicate the road, but do not travel it. They are "Noah's carpenters" who helped build an ark and were overwhelmed in the waters that bore it aloft in safety.
Careless parents, who instruct their children and servants, as every parent should, in the great doctrines of the Gospel, yet fail to show forth these doctrines in their lives, and seek not a personal benefit from the blood of Christ, are like "Noah's carpenters," and must expect their doom.
Printers, folders, and binders, engaged in making Bibles and religious books; book-sellers and publishers of religious publications, who are doing much to increase the knowledge of the gospel that saves sinners, but so many of whom are careless about their own salvation, will have the endless woe of knowing that, while their toils have brought spiritual good to thousands, they were only like pack-mules that carried good food to market without tasting it; or like "Noah's carpenters" who helped build a ship in which they never sailed.
A greater storm than the one that lifted Noah's ark above the flood waters is soon to come upon this wicked world. Friend, are you ready for it? The only place of safety from the storm of God's wrath is "in Christ," the true ark. Will you enter now while He bids you "Come?”
Soon the door must close. Are you outside? I pray you enter now, for when the day of grace is over, God Himself will shut the door. And then? Too late.