SOME years ago a gold digger was called to decide between preserving his life, or parting with the gains of many years. He stood on the deck of a ship, which coming from Australia had all but reached her harbor, in safety. Night came on, and with the night a storm that wrecked ships and hopes, and fortunes, all together. The dawning light but revealed a scene of horror, death staring them in the face. The sea, lashed into fury, ran mountains high; no boat could live in it.
One chance still remained—a stout, brave swimmer, disencumbered of all impediments, might reach the shore, where hundreds stood ready to dash into the boiling surf to seize and save him. One man was observed to go below. He bound round his waist a heavy belt, filled with gold, the hard-earned gains of his life, and returned to the deck. He saw his friends, one after another, leap overboard.
After a brief but terrible struggle, head after head went down, sunk by the gold they had fought hard to preserve, and were loath to lose. Slowly he unbuckled his belt. His hopes had been bound up in it. It was to buy land, and ease, and respect—the reward of long years of hard and weary exile. What hardships he had endured for it? The hopes of day, the dreams of night, were there. If he parts with it, he is a beggar; if he keeps it, he dies. He held it in his hand for a while, took a long, sad look at it, and then with a strong effort, flung it far out into the roaring sea.
Was it not a wise thing to do? It sank with a sullen plunge; and then he followed it, not to sink, but relieved of its weight, to swim over the billows, and safely to reach the shore.
Had he not acted wisely? Yes, a man can realize his danger in a scene like that and choose life; but how few realize their infinitely greater danger before God, and take His way of escape!
There is no need of being lost; it is ones own fault if he is not saved, for God has dealt with sin in the person of His Son, and now His command is,
The blood has been shed—the blood of the sinless One; God’s righteous law has been vindicated, and His justice satisfied; and He beseeches you to be reconciled to Him.
This is good news. Instead of asking you to do anything, He tells you plainly,
“The righteousness of God.. . . is ... . unto all, and upon all them that believe.”
Behold His patience beareth long,
With those who from Him rove;
Till mighty grace their hearts subdues,
To teach them “God is love.”
This precious truth His Word declares,
And all His mercies prove;
Jesus, the Gift of Gifts appears,
To show that “God is love.”
ML 01/30/1927