An old fisherman, who was an earnest, happy Christian, in his declining years used to spend his afternoons on the sea beach, giving away gospel papers to the people, and speaking to them, as he had opportunity, about Jesus. The children were very fond of “Old Joe,” as he was familiarly called; he had so many stories to tell of the sea and its dangers. Perhaps the one he told most frequently was the story of his own conversion, which took place at sea one stormy night by resting his soul on Christ through the words of John 3:16.
“God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
“My anchor held there,” he would say, “and I know of no better anchorage for a sinner than that grand, glorious verse. Many weary storm-tossed souls have anchored there, and found rest and peace through believing that God loved them.”
Reader, have you anchored there, or are you tossed about, afraid to meet God, because you do not know Him?
“Old Joe” took ill suddenly one day; his place on the beach was empty, and many who knew and loved him called at the house to ask how he was. His pilgrim days were done; and just before he passed away he raised his hand, and pointing to a framed card on the wall with the words of John 3:16 on it, he said in triumph, “The anchor holds! the anchor holds!”
Wasn’t it good anchorage? Let it be yours, my reader! All else will fail, but “the Word of the Lord endureth forever.”
Ere a child has reached age seven,
Teach to him the way to heaven;
Better still the work will thrive,
If he learns before he’s five.
— Spurgeon
ML 03/03/1968