The Lord Jesus once asked His disciples, “What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Matthew 16:2626For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26)). A man told the following story of how he nearly lost his life, to illustrate that in much the same way each of us can be in danger of losing our own soul. As you read, think of the Bible verse that says, “There is a way which [seems] right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:1212There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12)).
Here is the man’s story: “One day I was seated in my little inflatable boat, feeling relaxed and carefree, rocked by the waves, enjoying the sea, the sun and freedom from the crowds that packed the beach. Suddenly, I noticed that some people had come down to the water’s edge and were signaling wildly to me. This alerted me to the fact that the waves were growing stronger, and I could now see that I was being carried away from shore by a current. I had been so happy, just drifting along, never thinking that danger was near. Now I was completely at the mercy of the angry waves and unable to do anything about it.”
At this point, we would warn you that many boys and girls, and grown-ups too, set out on the ocean of life, confident and sure, totally unaware that their souls are in danger of being lost. The Lord Jesus not only said many things about the need to be saved, but He died for us as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, “that whosoever [believes] in Him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:1515That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:15)). There is saving help for sinners, and there was saving help for this man too.
“I began to shout for help as loudly as I could, but the noise of the roaring waves drowned my voice. There was absolutely nothing I could do to help myself. Rescue would have to come from someplace else. I held on to the hope that those people who saw me might go for help.
“Although I did not know it, the lifeguards also had seen me and realized I was in such serious danger that they sent out their helicopter to rescue me. While it hovered over my head, a man came down on a rope and passed me a harness. Once I put it on, they could lift me to safety.
“With much relief and thankfulness, I put on that harness. It truly was my lifeline to safety, and how wonderful to be lifted up from the place of certain death and set down safely a few minutes later on the beach.”
Psalm 18:1616He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. (Psalm 18:16) was certainly this man’s experience: “He sent from above, He took me, He drew me out of many waters.” His life was spared, and how grateful he was to the rescuers who had seen his danger and had gone to great expense and trouble to save him.
You and I may feel we will never be in such a dangerous situation as this man. Yet, because all of us have sinned and cannot make it to heaven on our own, we are in even more danger - that of losing our souls. As we drift along from one day to the next, the current of the world is strong, continuously carrying us farther from God.
Those who tell the gospel try to alert us to our need to call on the Lord Jesus, the only One who can save us. He paid the greatest cost - in love to us He gave His very life to save us. He waits to hear our cry and from above will lift our souls to safety. All who have been warned of their danger and have realized the seriousness of delay, have called on Christ Jesus and been saved.
We hope this man’s experience will alert some to see their own need of calling to the only One who can forgive their sins. We have the assurance that “whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:2121And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Acts 2:21)).
Joe, his two sisters and Grandma were having a nice walk one sunny afternoon in the country near the house where they were visiting. At a pleasant time like this, what could be lurking in the field to harm them? Certainly there was no threat to them that they could see.
TRAMP went someone’s foot on a nest of yellow jackets. Immediately up came an army of these angry insects and covered Joe’s head! As Grandma tried to chase them away, she was stung several times. Poor Joe was stung by a lot of yellow jackets at the same time, even though he was running very fast towards the house. Even his youngest sister got stung twice.
After the four of them were safely inside the house, another wasp, hidden in his jacket, stung Joe! By this time poor Joe was sobbing loudly!
No crying could ease the pain he had to endure. It is terribly painful to be stung by even one of these angry wasps, and Joe had many stings. For some people, it can mean death if they are allergic to bee or wasp stings.
All of us have been stung by sin, but those who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour have the sting removed. Jesus took that sting in our place when He suffered and died on the cross. Those who are trusting in Him can thankfully answer these questions: “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:5555O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (1 Corinthians 15:55)). The answer for believers is, “Because of Jesus, they are gone!”
Has Jesus removed the sting for you?
ML-06/25/2006