“Hang on!” called John above the noise of the wind and pounding waves. Timing his jump from the pitching boat, John leaped... and landed on the rocks of Egg Island Rock. Even though the rocks were covered with ice from freezing spray, he got a foothold and climbed up to higher rocks. In his hand he held the rope attached to the front of the boat he had just left. His wife Marge was still in the boat, holding on tightly as the boat pitched with the pounding waves. Bracing himself, John worked the 14-foot open boat around so that it was facing into shore. Then working with an onrushing wave, he pulled on the rope as hard as he could. The boat surged toward shore and got close enough so that Marge could leap onto the ice-covered rocks.
As John struggled to help her while still holding the rope, the receding wave and a gust of wind caught the boat. It was flung violently around, tearing the rope out of his numb hand. In a moment the wind had carried the boat away and with it their small amount of food and emergency gear.
John and Marge Fairservice were lighthouse keepers. Their house was the only home on Outer Sambro Island just off Nova Scotia’s Halifax Harbor. There they took care of the lighthouse whose revolving light warned ships coming in and out of the harbor of the dangerous rocks.
That morning in early January John and Marge had taken their three children to the mainland to go back to school after their year-end holidays. While on the mainland the children lived at the home of their friends Alfie and Helen Gray. After visiting and then shopping for groceries, John and Marge started on the three-mile boat trip back to their home on the island. The weather, which had been clear that morning when they left, was now turning bad with heavy clouds rolling in from the southeast.
The normal 15-minute trip started fine. But as the boat met the full force of the wind funneling between Outer Sambro and Egg Island Rock, the motor suddenly stalled. Immediately they were at the mercy of the wind which swung them around, almost tipping them on the reef that ran out from Egg Island Rock. John tried to stop the boat by throwing out the anchor, but the water was too deep for the anchor to catch. Their only hope was to wait for the wind and waves to take them close enough to the granite shoreline of Egg Island Rock, where hopefully they could get out of the boat and perhaps get the motor started again.
Now that they had gotten safely on the small island, they were stranded only 40 feet from their home island. It was very cold, and this looked like a winter storm blowing in.
John and Marge knew that they were in a very dangerous situation and that they had to have help quickly. There are many people today who face the possibility of death each day and never think about their danger. God is absent in their lives, so they are still responsible for their sins. Anyone who dies in this condition faces punishment for their sins in hell forever. “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27). How serious and frightening to be facing an eternity in hell where the Bible says “there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 13:4242And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:42).
Only 40 feet separated John and Marge from the warmth and safety of their home. Yet they faced freezing to death if they could not reach it. It was now dark, and each swing of the revolving light briefly lighted their house. It was so close... yet so far away.
Those who have died without accepting the Lord Jesus as their Saviour are called “lost” sinners. They are lost forever — they have no hope of escaping or being saved. “There is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence [here] to you cannot.” Luke 16:2626And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. (Luke 16:26). The gulf is fixed — permanent and there is no crossing it!
John knew they must not stay on that small island through the night because the waves were getting higher. Already they were breaking at their feet. They had only one hope — John would have to swim across the 40-foot channel to Outer Sambro Island. If he could reach the small gravel beach and get to the house, he could radio for help.
Using his “floater” jacket as a life preserver, John slipped into the icy water at low tide, when the water distance would be the shortest. The cold was far worse than he had imagined. Waves kept washing over him, but he struggled on, stroke after stroke. His hands and arms soon turned numb. He didn’t think he could make it!
Are you still struggling to reach heaven in your own weak power? It can’t be done. The longer you struggle the more your sins will drag you down. But there is help for you. The Lord Jesus longs to rescue you, if you will accept His outstretched hand.
God saw our hopeless condition, and because He loves us He provided a way to save us. He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus, to die for our sins so that we could be saved. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16). It is only by confessing our need of a Saviour and accepting the Lord Jesus as our Saviour that we can be saved. On the cross He was punished for the sins of any who would believe in Him. The salvation plan is complete, except for your part — realizing your need of a Saviour and accepting the Lord Jesus as your Saviour. It’s just as if a life ring were thrown to John which he would have immediately grasped. In the same way the life ring of God’s love and mercy is being offered to you now. Won’t you accept if before it is too late?
Although it seemed like hours John was only in the water a few minutes before his feet touched bottom. He had made it! Struggling to shore nearly exhausted and frozen, he stumbled and clawed his way up the icy, rocky path which led from the shore to their house. The light from the lighthouse lighted the way for him.
As he clawed at the unlocked door with hands too numb to work, he wondered if he would be able to turn the knob. By pressing the knob between both hands he finally heard the welcome click as the door opened. Stumbling into the warm house, he headed straight to the radio, fumbling with the dials.
“This is an emergency!” he called weakly across the emergency channel, which was being monitored at the local Coast Guard station.
The Coast Guard quickly moved into action, getting the exact details of Marge’s location and alerting a crew for the rescue. Within minutes the cutter was pulling away from the dock in the harbor. But would they make it in time to rescue Marge?
The time has almost come to an end when God’s offer of mercy to lost sinners will still be available. Very soon now the door of grace will be closed permanently, and if you are not on the inside you will be too late. Your opportunity to be saved is right now. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2).
As the cutter’s powerful engines brought it close to Egg Island Rock, a bright searchlight was turned on. It swept along the small rocky island. Was Marge still safe? “There she is!” one of the crew called.
With much difficulty Marge was rescued by two of the crew using a small rubber boat and then a lifeboat. They came to where she was stranded and rescued her.
The Lord Jesus Christ has come to where you are stranded and is waiting to save you. All you have to do is accept His offer. He is ready right now... are you?
ML-02/10/1985