By The Editor Storm and Shelter
WALKING with a friend at one of our naval bases during the war we saw a crowd of shipping in the harbor, which was formed by the mighty mass of granite composing the breakwater. I asked the meaning of this great congregation of shipping. He told me the ships had come into harbor for shelter from German submarines. I thought, as I gazed on these vessels, protected and secure, of the safety of those who trust in Christ. The breakwater of His eternal love is forever between them and the foe, and “they shall never perish” is the promise of omnipotent power. The strength of the “Rock of Ages” is the great rampart between us and all our enemies.
On another occasion I walked on the breakwater during a storm at sea. I saw the great Atlantic billows rear their foaming crests and hurl their mighty volume of water against the structure on which I stood. Wave after wave, driven by the violence of the gale, poured their thousands of tons of water in unavailing efforts to destroy that which impeded their onward progress; while around me flying spray and whirling spume proclaimed the might and majesty of the storm. As far as eye could see the ocean, like a seething cauldron, tossed and heaved in its vast unrest, while the whistling wind and roaring waves mingled in a mighty diapason of wondrous grandeur.
Terrible was the wrath of the sea, and what a picture, I thought, of the wrath of man that is spending its awful strength against the barriers of civilization today. What mighty storms are sweeping across the ocean of human life; the prince of the power of the air is raising the winds that are striving on the great deep of human life.
There is a danger of these awful devil-storms engulfing our land. The cataclysm of war and disease has left the shores of Time strewn with the wreckage of broken hearts and sorrow-burdened homes. What barriers can we, as Christians, erect to keep back the terrible fury of Bolshevism and blasphemy that is hurling its appalling strength against the world?
There is only one power that can preserve us and those dear to us, and that is the power of believing prayer. We must surround our lives and homes with prayer. Every Christian must pray as never before, for these are days of awful danger. The supplications of the saved in every land—day by day, and hour by hour—will build up ramparts and breakwaters that the utmost frenzy of the enemy cannot break down.
If we call in faith to God, omnipotent barriers will rise, and “Peace be still” will hush the wildest storm if the Son of God is with us.
In these days of desperate need we do well to say, “Teach us to pray.” We want the divine power that fell at Pentecost―the power that shook the prayer-rooms in apostolic days―then, indeed, the miracle of the open vision will be given us, and we shall see the encircling power of God in our hours of trial. The awed silences of great peril shall be broken by the voice of God saving to us, “Lo, I am with you always.” With you not only at the gates of heavenly joy, but with you in the dark valleys of trouble and affliction; with you when the tempest rages out on the dark and angry sea; with you to calm the storm and lead to safety; with you like a mighty rampart that no enemy can break down; with you till you reach the shining safety of eternal shores.