THE PERIL. It was on a stormy winter night. With the rising tide the gale increased, and during the violent squall the brig "Samaritano" was driven on to the fatal Goodwin Sands. Her crew of nineteen men were soon in fearful peril, for their frail ship rapidly began to break up as the huge waves broke over her. Then, as a large hole was rent in her side, all hope of refloating her was taken away, and they were face to face with a terrible death.
What a picture this gives of the peril of your soul if you are unconverted; though as yet you may not have realized it. Every unsaved person is like a shipwreck on the sea of life, and none can ever reach the heavenly harbor unless the Mighty Savior comes to rescue them. "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death," and thousands have been wrecked on the sandbanks of sin and unbelief, though following the way that seemeth right to them. How great is your peril as a poor shipwrecked sinner, exposed to the storm of judgment that must overtake the world, and you must remain helpless and hopeless but for the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of sinners.
THE CRY. Those poor men, realizing that nothing could be done to save the ship, were at their wit's end. Their small boats were already smashed to pieces; only one thing more remained to be done. The signal of distress must be fired, for they knew that the brave life-boatmen only launch their boat in response to a cry of need. Quickly, then, the rocket was fired and the flag of distress hoisted: then, lashing themselves to the rigging, they hoped and waited for the lifeboat.
This is the first step towards their rescue, and for every one who has discovered his need of the Savior, this, too, is the way into the blessing. It was when the publican cried, "God be merciful to me, the sinner," that the Lord Jesus said of him "this man went down to his house justified." It was when the storm-tossed mariners, described in Psa. 107, whose soul melted because of trouble and were at their wit's end, cried unto the Lord in their trouble that He brought them out of their distresses and brought them unto their desired haven.
THE RESPONSE. The signal was heard on shore, and in a moment there was intense excitement. Knowing well the terrors of the Goodwin Sands, the storm-warriors lose not a moment. In a few seconds a rocket is fired from the lifeboat house, telling the men on the sinking vessel that their cry is heard, and at the same time calling the boat's crew together.
Watch them as they race, as though for dear life! First come, first in, until the boat is manned, and then with a ringing cheer she is launched and away on her errand of salvation. Every man is determined, please God, to reach those poor sailors, and not to come back without them.
While we anxiously await the result of their efforts, let yonder lifeboat, as she speeds to the rescue, remind us of the Lord Jesus, the Glorified Savior, who is ever ready to respond to the feeblest cry of need from a sin-distressed soul. "The Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." He left the glory above and took that wonderful journey of love, even unto death. He endured the storm of wrath, when upon Calvary's cross, that He might become the Righteous Savior of shipwrecked souls. The judgment storm has passed for the one who trusts in Jesus, and the believer can rejoice because his sins are all forgiven and he is forever freed from their terrible consequences.
THE RESCUE. The lifeboat is now drawing near to the nineteen men on the sinking vessel, but it is no easy task. A snow squall is corning on and more than once they lose sight of the sinking ship. Fiercer still becomes the gale and the force of the sea with the blinding snow—the storm is at its height!
Yet there is no faltering, no hesitation, but with brows knit, teeth clenched, hands ready and hearts firm, they dash through the spray. A wave rushes bodily over the boat and down beneath the weight of the water the men and the lifeboat sink, but only for a moment: the splendid boat rises and frees herself of the seas which had buried her, and the crew breathe again. Then onward they go with every man on the look-out for the wreck, until at last they discover her half a mile to leeward.
Soon they draw near and settle to their work with a hearty cheer. They are keenly watched by the men on the sinking ship, for this was their only hope. All their own devices had failed; their own ship was. fast going to pieces, and therefore was unworthy of their trust, but there is now within sight a boat strong enough to live in such a storm and manned by those who are bent on their salvation.
Even so is Christ the only hope of the sinner I He is the Savior who draws near to you, and the only way to blessing is to trust Him and leave the wreck yourself and trust entirely to Him. He is trustworthy! He has been beneath the wave, for He said, "all Thy waves and Thy billows are gone over Me." But He came out of death, the triumphant Savior and is now "able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him."
The anchor is cast, the cable paid out, and the boat is quickly brought alongside the wreck. The coxswain gives the order, "Jump!” and with a cry of joy three men obey and are safe. But, again and again, as a tremendous wave rushes in swiftly upon them, they have to haul in the cable and draw away, lest the boat should be dashed upon the wreck and capsize. Each time it returns a sailor jumps in, until only the little cabin boy is left, and he cannot be persuaded to leave the rigging. Poor little lad! he is but a picture of many who persist in clinging to their own efforts for salvation and will not avail themselves of the Savior whom God has provided for them. Will you not depend entirely upon Jesus, the only Savior? Perhaps you need what that little lad soon found—a powerful hand—for one of the brave men seizes him with a firm grasp and both are quickly in the boat. It is not a moment too soon, for the ship is now a total wreck.
"Haul in the cable and away!” cries the coxswain, and the boat is, for the last time, pulled away from the wreck. The terrible strain and suspense, which has lasted over two hours, is over: they all breathe freely, their faces brighten, and thankfully they sail from the sands and the breakers into deep water. The flag is hoisted, telling the joyful news that all have been rescued, and later, when the storm-warriors enter the harbor shouting "All saved 1 all saved! " cheer after cheer breaks from the crowd to Welcome home from the dread battlefield those who had fought and conquered, who now bore with them the fruit of the victory—nineteen men whose lives had been saved from such a terrible peril!
Through God's eternal day the heavens will ring with praises to the Mighty Victorious Savior. He will be surrounded by the fruit of His victory—the myriads of the redeemed. They will unite in the song of praise to Him who fought the fight and "won the meed and crown."
But what of the rescued men? Completely overcome by feelings of gratitude and thankfulness, they weep tears of joy as they, again and again, thank their brave rescuers, and delight to tell others of the wonderful boat and its noble crew that came to them in all their need, and saved them from so fearful a death. So, too, the believer in Jesus, filled with gratitude to the great Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, delights to tell of Him and His power to save. How wonderful it is to be saved from eternal ruin, from overwhelming wrath and to be brought home to God!
"Christ is the only Savior; Mighty to save,
He who suffered once for sins, and sank 'neath the wave,
Sing how the wrath of God on Calvary's cross He bore:
How by death He conquered death, and lives evermore!
Christ is the Savior, He NEVER will fail,
All hope to save oneself could nothing avail;
Man is a total wreck; can never reach the shore;
All who trust in JESUS CHRIST are saved evermore."
F. S. M.