As yet there were but few people astir on the beach in the fresh, cool morning hours. Had there been any watchers, they might have seen a strong swimmer strike out boldly to sea. Every stroke told, and put the shore at a greater distance.
Being in the very prime of manhood he never thought of danger as on he swam, till at last, a little wearied, he rested a moment and thought of returning. Then he found he had been carried out far beyond his intentions. He struck out for land, but now found the current against him, and his utmost efforts made little headway. Still he struggled on, till utterly exhausted, he turned on his back, and gave himself up for lost.
He had been religiously brought up; yes, more, he was the preacher for a large congregation. He had lived a careful life and till this moment had been on good terms with himself. Now with death before him, his soul awoke to find he had no hope of eternity. He was not ready to die! One thing was lacking: he had no link with Christ!
He felt he had preached a Christ he had never known, had told others of a salvation he had not known himself! His life with its outward ceremonies he now loathed as mockery. Now he saw them at their true value—"dead works"—Heb. 9:1414How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:14); that the work that could save his soul must be done for him, and done by another.
It was not concerning his body, but his soul, that he cried to God there on the mighty deep—there alone with God, on the waves—a great cry: "Lord, save me, or I perish!"—a vile sinner. As he cried, the answer came, "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." "Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
He then murmured, "Lord, I believe that precious blood was shed for me." Life and peace came to his soul—then unconsciousness.
“Father! Father! Look ahead! What is that on the water? Surely, it's a man," said the son of the skipper of a fishing smack. The father looked. He sprang to the oar, calling out, "Row for very life.”
The men rowed, putting forth all their energies. The skipper saw the body sink once and rise again nearer to the boat; sink a second time, and this time it might rise close to them if they made a desperate effort. "Bend to your oars, for one last pull." And it did rise within reach.
A week later, in that same fishing-smack, he reviewed what the Lord had done for his soul when death and judgment had threatened him. He spoke to his rescuers of Jesus the Savior; of the impossibility of our doing anything to save ourselves—that that work must all be done by Him, or we must be forever lost; and he read to them from God's Word: “But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)... not of works, lest any man should boast.”
“When you saw me in the water that morning, could I help myself? I did not help you to save me; you did all the work, and I got all the good." Friend, the Son of God DID ALL THE WORK, AND WE GET ALL THE GOOD OF IT.
“Now, my friends, do you not see how it is with the Lord? He, the sinless One, suffered in our stead. He took our place, and offers us His place.
“Do you think, however long I live, I shall ever cease to carry about with me the feelings of gratitude and love for the men who did so much for me? And this is how it is with us as to the Lord. When I know He has, saved me at such a cost, I cannot go on as I was, with no personal contact with Him. I want my life to show out my gratitude and love and praise!”
More than one of those fishermen were turned to the Lord through the preacher's personal testimony. Reader, what must YOU do to be saved, beyond believing on the Lord Jesus Christ? Dead in sins and trespasses—dead toward God—what can you do? NOTHING.
Nothing either great or small,
Nothing, sinner, no;
Jesus died and paid it all,
Long, long ago.
It is finished, yes indeed,
Finished every jot;
Sinner, this is all you need,
Tell me, is it not?”