LOST BY TRYING. The night is wild and dark; the Goodwin Sands are alive with the rolling breakers. Never was a band of men more helpless than the crew of the "Mary." Their only hope of rescue is the lifeboat, which is now on her way towards them: but the question that is on everyone's lips is, "How long will the wreck float under them?”
The storm howls around the lifeboat as it draws near, yet the cries of the distressed sailors are heard, “We are sinking fast! We are sinking fast! “The coxswain of the lifeboat decides to try to run her alongside the wreck, and after a great effort succeeds in getting her within a few feet, when a tremendous breaker, coming like a wall, lifts the boat in its grasp, snaps the lines, and sweeps it away from the sinking vessel and her disappointed crew. Again and again the noble rescuers draw near, but each time are defeated by the same overwhelming force.
Among those on the wreck is one poor fellow, almost beside himself with fear and anxiety. Two days before, he had left home full of joy and hope of a speedy return to his loved ones, and now there seems nothing but a watery grave. The third failure of the boat is too much for him; he is determined to make a great effort to save himself.
Alas I how many are making this mistake to-day! Awakened to their true condition before God, knowing that "the wages of sin is death," and "after this the judgment," they are in much trouble; and with earnestness make a sincere effort to save themselves. If you have found out that in God's holy sight you are a lost sinner, with judgment before you, and perhaps you have been told that you must do something to get right with God, do not make that fatal error. The apostle Paul wrote of some who were " trying" that they "being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God."
Poor foolish sailor! Throwing up his hands, he rushes wildly across the deck, balances himself for a moment on the gunwale, then springs with all his force into the sea, no doubt intending to swim to the lifeboat. The boatmen see him; the coxswain siezes a life-belt, ready to throw, but a huge wave rolls over the man, bearing him far out of their reach and out of the light of the sailors' flare. He struggles hard, and once they see the desperate efforts he is making, but alas, it is all in vain, and soon he sinks and is seen no more.
Oh 1 why could he not trust the lifeboat? Those brave men had come to save, and if only he had been content to let them do the work of rescue he would have been saved.
Cease from your own efforts: they will never bring you into blessing. JESUS is very near and He is "able to save." He is worthy of your trust, and if you will let Him He will save you. He has been to Calvary's cross and from His lips came the cry, "It is finished." The work is done and now salvation is not obtained by the one who tries to save himself, but "to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." "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." As the hymn says so simply:
Till to JESUS' work you cling
By a simple faith,
"Doing” is a deadly thing —
"Doing" ends in death.
Cast your deadly "doing" down —
Down at Jesus' feet;
Stand "in Him," in Him alone,
Gloriously "complete."
SAVED BY TRUSTING. As soon as it becomes evident to the coxswain of the lifeboat that the poor man, who vainly endeavored to save himself, has gone, a fourth attempt is made to reach the "Mary," which by now is nearly under water, and cannot float much longer. How can the men be saved?
The lifeboat is now right astern of the vessel, which is drifting slowly towards them. The seas run with such violence that it is useless attempting to fasten the boat alongside the wreck, and the coxswain determines to anchor it right in the path of the moving wreck, and to try to get the crew off as she floats past. On comes the wreck, straight for them; the lifeboat is managed skilfully, and now is close to her, while the cable is paid out to let the boat float with the ship.
"Jump when we near," they cry to the crew; "jump for it, be steady, but DO NOT LOSE A CHANCE!”
A sea throws the boat within a yard of the wreck; three of the remaining men spring on board and are safe.
"Have we got them all?” is the cry. "No! one is left! Look out then, my men, in we go again! “The cable is paying out fast—only ten fathoms left. They see the figure of a man at the stern, and shout, "BE READY!’TIS YOUR LAST CHANCE. You must jump for life, we shall not have time to come in again! "
How this reminds us of the clear warning note which to-day is sounded into the ears of gospel hearers. Be ready! Who knows but that you have reached your last opportunity, even as you read this. Life is very uncertain! The Lord, too, is coming for His own. Be ready! The True Lifeboat is passing by, and you may at this moment trust yourself and your eternal safety entirely to Him. He is the mighty Savior to-day, ready to save, while you are ready to perish. He has saved myriads, and He is now joyfully receiving sinners. He would say to thee, "Thy sins are forgiven thee," and thou wouldst prove His welcome.
The boat closes in alongside; a heavy sea nearly knocks down the men who are holding the cable. "NOW!” cries the coxswain, and in a moment the man makes a desperate leap, and falls safely among the men. Not a moment too soon, for just then they call, "Rope gone!” and soon they are many yards from the wreck, and see her no more.
At first the rescued men, who have never been in a lifeboat before, feel terrified, as it is tossed by the waves, and they fear that it will capsize every moment, but they soon find that it can ride triumphantly through the storm, and in a couple of hours they are safe in Dover Harbor.
We need not wonder that those men should write a touching tribute of thanks to the life boatmen who had so nobly rescued them from death, nor can we marvel that all the redeemed should find their eternal joy in singing the song of praise to Jesus, who has washed them from their sins in His own blood.
He is worthy of your trust, He is worthy of your thanks, and indeed of the praises of all the redeemed.
“Christ in that hour of darkness, lost
ones to save,
Braved Himself the ocean depths, and
battled the wave;
Though all Jehovah's billows rolled
o'er His head,
Son of man and Son of God, He rose
from the dead.
Oh, what a mighty Savior, JESUS
who died
Strong enough to bear His own above
the angry tide;
Not e'en the feeblest saint will Christ
ever fail,
Never will the gates of hell against Him
prevail."
F. S. M.