“You never realize the sea is so big!” said a young fellow named Anthony, who had been drifting all alone in a tiny boat off the English coast.
It wasn’t what he expected when one summer’s evening he hired the boat, intending to go swimming from it in the bay. But he had lost both his oars, and now he was drifting, drifting out into the vast Atlantic, quite helpless and at the mercy of the tide.
He did, not worry too much at first, for he hoped he would drift toward shore, but then he found the land was getting further and further away, and he knew he was drifting out into the open sea.
By this time dusk had come and soon darkness fell. “Then,” he said, “I got very frightened. I thought a search would probably be started, but then I was afraid I would be missed, for the sea is so big. A couple of boats passed fairly close, but they did not see me.”
Yes, a search was begun; the lifeboat was launched, boats were alerted by radio, and air force planes on radar exercises were asked to help.
As we heard about young Anthony’s plight, alone, drifting helplessly in the darkness, we could not help thinking how many young folks are like that nowadays—not in a boat at sea, but on the sea of life, drifting alone in the dark. But a search for them is under way. That was why the Lord Jesus came into this world— “to seek and to save that which was lost.” And He has His messengers with the light of the gospel seeking to bring them to safety. Like the woman with the candle, looking for the lost piece of silver (Luke 15) so the Lord by His Spirit is looking for lost souls amid the darkness and ruin of this world, seeking to bring them “out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
We don’t know what all Anthony’s thoughts were in his lonely little craft, but we do know he was immensely relieved when suddenly a brilliant light spread all around him. One of the planes in the search had dropped a flare, and in its light he saw a fishing boat only a few hundred yards away. But more important still, it showed him to the fisherman who had joined the search. A few minutes later Anthony was safely on board and his boat being towed along behind.
You couldn’t imagine young Anthony saying to his rescuers, “Just leave me alone; I’m happy enough here!” No, he realized he was drifting farther and farther away from shore, from safety, and loved ones. An untimely fate and a long eternity stared him in the face. And it is like that too, for those who drift through this life, “having no hope, and without God in the world.” Ephesians 2:1212That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: (Ephesians 2:12). But God is searching them out, and He has those who bring the light of His Word to show where they are and to tell them of the Rescuer who is at hand. “The Lord’s arm is not shortened, that it cannot save” (Isa. 59:11Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: (Isaiah 59:1)) and His loving hand can reach us wherever we are.
If we call to Him like Peter did when he was “beginning to sink,” “Lord, save me!", His response will be as quick and sure to us as it was to him—“Immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand and caught him.” (Matthew 14:30,3130But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? (Matthew 14:30‑31).)—Signposts
Wide, wide as the ocean;
High as the heavens above;
Deep, deep as the deepest sea
Is my Saviour’s love.
I though so unworthy
Still am a child of His care,
For His Word teaches me
That His love reaches me
Everywhere!
ML-11/26/1978