A number of years ago a steamer left New York City for a European port with a complement of passengers. Amongst these was Mrs. H. S., wife of a lawyer in Chicago, with her four children. The voyage was almost over, and they were within sight of the shores of England when a terrific catastrophe occurred. In the darkness a vessel collided with the Atlantic liner, and she immediately began to sink.
Mrs. S. gathered the children around her, and commended them to her God, and Father. As the water rose higher and higher one of the little ones sought to comfort her sorrowing mother by remarking that it was as easy to go to the Lord Jesus from the sea, as from their home in America. One by one her precious children were swept from her grasp, perishing before her eyes. She was, however, mercifully preserved and picked up several hours later by a passing ship.
Knowing that the news of the disaster would soon be flashed across the ocean, Mrs. S., on reaching shore, dispatched a cablegram to her husband. Tidings had been received by him of the loss of the steamer and many of its passengers, but, as yet, he did not know the lot of his dear ones.
With trembling heart, and faltering hand, he broke open the envelope. The message was short, consisting of but two words. His eye caught the word "saved" and his heart was filled with rapturous delight.
On glancing a second time at the cablegram he perceived the other word "alone," and a tremendous revulsion of feeling ensued. The one moment he was filled with ineffable joy, and the next moment he was overwhelmed with indescribable sadness. He could, however, thank God that his beloved wife was saved, though he mourned over the loss of his darlings. In spite of it all he was enabled to sit down and compose the beautiful hymn, the first stanza of which is as follows:
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way;
And trouble, like sea billows roll:
Whatever my lot, Thou halt taught me to say,
"It is well, it is well with my soul.”
There are many families in which there are saved and unsaved members—those who are prepared, and those who are unprepared to meet a holy and sin-hating God. In some of them there are a saved husband, and an unsaved wife; a saved sister, and an unsaved brother, and so on.
What a terrible thing it will be for you in eternity if your mother, or father, sister, or brother, wife, or husband is "saved alone." And you are lost! To remember the happy days of childhood when you joined in singing the lines,
"There is a happy Land,
Not far away.”
and to learn that you are eternally separated from your dear ones, and are hopelessly, helplessly, and irretrievably lost!
Now while the day of grace lasts; now while the Holy Spirit strives; believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and obtain eternal life as a free gift (John 6:4747Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. (John 6:47)). Why put off the settling of your soul's salvation a moment longer? Think of God's love to you.
Think of Him whose law you have broken persistently, and repeatedly, whose commands you have trampled under your feet, "beseeching" you to be reconciled to Him! If, however, you continue your present course neglecting, despising or rejecting the salvation of God, ponder His solemn words, "Because I have called and ye refused; I have stretched out My hand, and no man regarded... I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh." Prov. 1:24-2624Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; (Proverbs 1:24‑26). And then to hear the terrible sentence pronounced, "Depart from Me ye cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." Matt. 25:4141Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: (Matthew 25:41). Thank God the day of grace is not yet past.
The Lord Jesus paid the mighty ransom with His precious blood for your deliverance. God is satisfied with Christ's glorious atonement, and He desires that you should be satisfied with that which satisfies Him.
"Because the sinless Savior died,
My sinful soul is counted free,
For God, the Just, is satisfied
To look on Him, and pardon me.”