THE steamer was about to leave. Many friends had said "good-bye," not knowing if they would ever see each other again. The gangways had been withdrawn and the signal given to go ahead.
Those on the pier were just watching her slowly move, when the cry was raised, and passed along from one official to another, "One more coming, captain!”
As we watched a lady hurrying down the pier, we wondered if she was just too late or would the captain wait for her.
Reader, are you running a risk of far greater magnitude at this very moment as to your passage into the great "forever"?
Are you ready NOW for that change; or are you leaving the preparation for that voyage until so near the time of starting that you risk being too late forever?
The great Captain of Salvation is bringing many to the haven of eternal glory, and those who trust themselves to His care have the blessed assurance that "there shall be no loss of any man's life.”
Paul could say, “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.'' (2 Tim. 1:12)
Reader, can you say this from your heart?
The Psalmist of old said, "They that go down to the sea in ships ... . see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep.... He commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind... He maketh the storm a calm...
He bringeth them unto their desired haven." (Psa. 107:23-30.)
Friend, have you owned His power? or are you still relying upon some effort of your own? Supposing you desired to reach a foreign port, three things are absolutely necessary:
(1) You must secure your passage;
(2) You must be ready at the place and time of starting;
(3) You must place yourself unconditionally under the care of the captain, who commands the ship.
Now, when it is a question of reaching the eternal haven of glory, many people propose doing many things to secure their passage; so many, in fact, it is impossible for them ever to be ready at the time of starting. All this is because they do not own the great work done on their behalf at Calvary's cross, or realize the power and love of the One, who is the great Captain of Salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ.
His power is declared in creation, but His love was made known at the cross, and His Word gives us the assurance of both.
Will you trust Him with your precious soul, dear reader? Owning you can do nothing to meet the just claims of a holy God on account of your sins, and trusting solely to that “one sacrifice for sins," let that simple message reach His ever-open ear: "One more coming, Lord!”
“Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come.”
So that, ere the day of grace ends or you are called from this world into the next, you may be able to rest in the blessed knowledge that you are ready for such a change, and able to join with others in the joyous praise-song:
“Saved for glory! Yes, for glory!
By the work of God's blest Son,
We shall reach the wished for haven
In our Father's house above.”
A. E. C.