Sam was a big Newfoundland dog. He belonged to a gentleman who operated a fishing business on the Newfoundland coast. Sam was a remarkably intelligent dog and faithful as well.
One day one of the fishing crews were in a small boat just outside the harbor, and off one of the rocky points that jutted out into the sea. Outside the harbor the sea was very rough. The men were near a line of breakers, and the waves were dashing and roaring in fury. The men were afraid to pass those breakers, brave as they were, fearing they could not survive. A crowd of people stood watching on the shore with great anxiety, but no one could help them. Time was passing, and the danger seemed to increase every minute.
Among the people on the shore was big Sam, the fishery master’s Newfoundland dog. He seemed to understand what the danger was. Presently he ran to the water’s edge, jumped in, and began swimming towards the boat in distress.
The great waves tossed him about, but he made his way through the surf, and the men in the boat saw him coming nearer to them. At first they thought he wanted to get into the boat, but it soon became evident that that was not his purpose. He did not come near the boat, but kept swimming around it. While he swam he kept looking earnestly at the men, and whining from time to time. They wondered what he wanted. At last one of them cried out, “Give him a rope; that’s what he wants.” They threw him a rope. Immediately Sam seized the end of it in his mouth, and turning around he struck out for shore. Back through the pounding waves he made his way, and finally reached the beach. Those waiting on the shore immediately took hold of the rope and began to pull. In a short time the boat with its crew aboard was hauled through the dangerous seas and the men on board were landed safely on the shore.
Noble Sam! He did a great job of life-saving that day, did he not? Sam’s one thought and purpose was to save the lives of those men, at the risk of his own. And it was love for perishing souls that brought the Lord Jesus into this world. “He came into this world to save sinners.” He knew what it would cost Him—His life—before He came. But as He hung upon that cross in the darkness of those last three awful hours, the waves and billows of God’s infinite judgment against sin rolled over Him. He could have come down from the cross, but love for you and me held Him there.
Himself He could not save,
Love’s stream too deeply flowed;
In love, Himself He gave
To pay the debt we owed.
The storm that bowed His blessed head is hushed forever. Jesus died. Now all who trust in Him as Saviour are saved forever, and soon will be landed on the peaceful shores of heaven.
But those who refuse to have Jesus as their Saviour, will have to go into that awful storm of judgment themselves. Their judgment will be eternal —in the lake of fire forever!
God grant that you, dear young reader, may put your trust in Jesus NOW, while it is yet the day of grace.
ML 06/06/1965