Struggling Alone

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 5
“Greek Seaman Cerasimos Koutcufas was one minute from rescue as the lifeboat came alongside his waterlogged raft. But in those brief seconds he died.” (Daily Express)
In the darkness of night the Greek ship Zafiris was wrecked on the rocks of the Mull of Galloway. The captain, seeing that the ship was fast on the rocks and in little danger of sinking immediately, ordered the crew to stay aboard until it was light.
Koutcufas disobeyed. Seizing a life jacket and a raft, he slipped over the side in the darkness, intent on saving himself. For five hours he fought his lone battle against the icy sea. Then the Portpatrick lifeboat closed in. The 28-year-old seaman, in one last, exhausted effort, grabbed for the ropes looping the dark blue hull. He missed!
Lifeboatmen caught hold of his life jacket. It was empty! The jacket was not tied on properly, and Koutcufas slipped through it and into the sea. He was not seen again.
Poor, poor man! He lost his life while trying to save himself. Had he only obeyed his captain and stayed with the ship, he would have been saved, for the other twenty-four on board were all rescued.
How many people today are like that poor seaman? How many are trying to save themselves—not their lives, but their everlasting souls—with a raft of good works and a life jacket of hoping for the best? It will not do. “None can keep alive his own soul” (Psa. 22:2929All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul. (Psalm 22:29)).
There is only one way. Our own efforts will not gain salvation; it is “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us” (Titus 3:55Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5)).
“By grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8-98For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8‑9)).
Why struggle on alone?