Old Joe the fisherman was an earnest happy Christian. In his declining years he used to spend his afternoons on the beach giving away gospel papers and tracts among the people and speaking to them about Jesus as he had opportunity. The children were very fond of old Joe, for he had lots of stories to tell of the sea and its danger.
Perhaps the one he told mostly was the story of his own conversion. This took place at sea one stormy night, through resting his soul on the Lord Jesus through the words of John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16): “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
“My anchor held there,” he would say, “and I know of no better anchorage for a sinner than that grand, glorious verse. Many a weary storm-tossed soul has anchored there, and found rest and peace through believing that God loved them.”
Reader, have you anchored there, or are you tossed about, afraid to meet God, because you do not know His love for you, a sinner?
Old Joe took suddenly ill one day. He was missed on the beach, and many who knew and loved him called at the house to ask how he was. His pilgrim days were done; just before he passed away, he raised his hand and, pointing to a framed card on the wall with the words of John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) on it, he said in triumph, “The anchor holds! The anchor holds!”
Wasn’t it good anchorage? Let it be yours, my reader; all else will fail, but “The Word of the Lord endureth forever.”
ML-11/07/1976