"Greek seaman Cerasimos Koutcufas was one minute from rescue as the lifeboat inched alongside his waterlogged raft. But in those brief seconds he died."
Daily Express In the darkness of night the Greek ship Zafiris was wrecked on the rocks of the Mull of Galloway. The captain, seeing that the ship was fast on the rocks and in little danger of sinking immediately, ordered the crew to stay aboard until it was light.
Koutcufas disobeyed. Seizing a life jacket and a raft, he slipped over the side in the darkness, intent on saving himself. For five hours he fought his lone battle against the icy sea. Then the Portpatrick lifeboat closed in. The 28 year old seaman, in one last exhausted effort, grabbed for the ropes looping around the dark blue hull. He missed!
Lifeboat men caught hold of his life jacket. It was empty! The jacket was not tied on properly, and Koutcufas slipped through it and into the sea. He was not seen again.
Poor, poor man! He lost his life while trying to save himself. Had he only obeyed his captain and stayed with the ship he would have been saved, for the other 24 on board were all rescued.
How many people today are like that poor seaman? How many are trying to save themselves -not their lives, but their everlasting souls—with a raft of good works and a life jacket of hoping for the best? It will not do. "None can keep alive his own soul." Psalm 22:2929All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul. (Psalm 22:29).
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2.8, 9.
Why struggle on alone?