Most children have gone to the store at some time to buy bread and milk or some other food. But what would you do if there were no store to go to? In some places that is exactly the way it is. Maybe there is a goat tied to a tree and perhaps a few chickens pecking around. There might be a little garden patch and a pig in a little pen. That is the grocery store!
One of our most abundant sources of food is the sea. One afternoon we watched fishermen using a net to fish in the sea. First the net was carefully piled in the back of a small boat, nearly sinking it when the men got in. Next they paddled out and together began to let down the net. They kept rowing in a large half circle and back in again to the beach.
Out beyond the net, about a mile or so, was the white, foaming reef where the waves were breaking. Earlier we had been swimming out there in the quiet waters of the lagoon. Using a mask and snorkel we had spent some time just floating on the surface of the water and gazing into this fascinating world of fish. What bright, beautiful colors they were against the white coral sand. They were neither afraid nor curious, but went about their business of swimming. I wondered if any of these fish would get caught in the net.
The fishermen now gathered at the water’s edge ready to begin the long pull. Now, a half mile of wet net, rope and fish takes a lot of hard work to pull in. However, many hands took the rope, and shiny, wet bodies, glistening in the sun, bent to the task of pulling at both ends of the long net. There was talking and laughing as the piles of net grew higher, and the arc of the net drew closer to the two lines of pulling men. Then, with a mighty heave, the final, bulging mass of net was rolled onto the sand, its silvery contents of fish wiggling to be free. What a catch! There were a few of the same kind of fish we had seen on the reef, but most were other kinds. Some were small, and others were large. They flopped and wiggled as the natives picked out the fish that were good for food and threw away the others. As we looked around, sure enough, here came the women to the “fish market.” They had their baskets with them and bought what they needed for their supper. There was plenty for all with some left over.
As we thought about that long net and the graceful are it made in the sparkling, blue sea it reminded us of the gospel net in Matthew 13:47-5047Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: 48Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. 49So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 50And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:47‑50). Here the gospel is pictured as a net that is used to draw in those who are floating about in the sea of this world. The net was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind—red, yellow, black and white. “When it was full (the net), they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.” Matthew 13:4848Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. (Matthew 13:48).
The same “old story” of the gospel has been told for nearly 2000 years. The net is almost full. It holds two kinds of people—those who really know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour and those who are just pretending to know Him. Sometimes we cannot tell the difference, but God can. He will be the One to decide. There is a day coming very soon when God will gather all those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus and will take them to heaven. The rest will be cast into hell and will be lost forever. Today might be the day He will come! Will you be one that will be cast out? He invites you now to “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” Isaiah 45:2222Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:22).
ML-04/11/1982