Recently, while crossing the Atlantic, we encountered a severe storm. For days our vessel battled with heavy gales, high waves, and drenching rain. Through God's mercy we were able to live through it without accident.
When the wind had somewhat subsided and we were proceeding on our passage, another ship was sighted. She was flying her national flag upside down, and a set of pennants signifying, "We are sinking. Will you take us off?" The vessel evidently was in bad shape—so bad that they felt it to be impossible to reach port, if they trusted to her.
Friend, have you reached that stage? Have you realized that in yourself you are a hopeless wreck-that you have "sinned, and come short of the glory of God"? Rom. 3:22, 2322Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:22‑23) says, "There is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." In such a state, all are lost, and, trusting only in self, eternally lost.
Is help available?
The crew of the sinking vessel realized their damaged ship was not seaworthy. They signaled for help where alone it could be obtained, and that was outside of themselves.
Are you content to drift on in a condition that endangers the eternal destiny of your immortal soul? You know you cannot save yourself.
Those men on the sinking ship knew their danger and their hopelessness, and they called for help. All we could answer was, "We will try to take you off when the sea subsides."
What miserable uncertainty! At any moment those men, now strong and active, could be hurled with their ship into the depths of the sea—unless we could help them. We too in this situation were helplessly standing by until conditions were right for us to be of help. Friend without Christ, you too are drifting over a stormy sea—your life rudderless, pilotless, a hopeless wreck. Signal for help! For you, it is at hand; there is no uncertainty. Your lifeboat is alongside; it is Christ Himself. Get in and be saved!
"The word is nigh thee... the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Rom. 10:8, 98But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:8‑9).