Out on the sea in a small sailboat, a father and son were on the lookout for turtles, especially hawksbill turtles, since their shells brought in a lot of money. Soon they saw one clearly visible in the beautiful, transparent waters of the Bahamas.
But the turtle eluded them, hiding under sunken rocks, and all their efforts ended in frustration. They went out again the next day, and the next, but they didn’t see any more of their wished-for prize. Finally the father gave up.
The young man, however, decided to continue the search alone. He told his father that if he stayed home and the turtle was captured, the father would lose his share of the money it brought, but the father was adamant. The boy pled with his father: “You know, Dad, very often the day you stay home is the day you’d succeed, so you’d better come.”
The old man said, “No,” and he meant, “No.” The boy urged and coaxed, but finally had to go alone.
And as it turned out, that day he caught the turtle! The news of the catch beat him back to shore, and so, when he landed his catch on the wharf, quite a few villagers were there to see the prize. Among them was the old man. If he’d only gone that morning — but it was too late. His share of the prize money was gone.
“Son,” he complained, “why didn’t you take me with you?”
“You know I asked you, Dad.”
“Yes, but you should have urged me to go,” replied the disappointed old fisherman.
“I did Dad — you know I did.”
“But why didn’t you plead with me?” the old man insisted.
“You know I tried as hard as I knew how to get you to go, but you just simply wouldn’t.”
“But, Son,” wailed the old man, “you should have made me go!”
The loss of the prize money hurt the old man —money didn’t come easy for him — but after all, it was only money. Have you ever stopped to think that you are in danger of losing something far more valuable?
You are in danger of losing forever the happiness of really living — of knowing eternally the joy of life, divine life, a life of perfect joy and peace. Jesus said about all who trust in Him for salvation from sin, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:1010The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)).
Instead, you are risking eternal death, eternal grief, weeping and wailing. In the day of judgment, you may think of us who are Christians, as you stand before the judgment throne of God, and say, “Why didn’t you ask me to come to Christ? Why didn’t you urge me? Why didn’t you make me go?”
I can’t make you go, but I can plead with you. I urge you to come to Christ. Come just as you are and trust Him as your Saviour. He died for you so that He might bear your sins on the cross in order that you might live forever with Him. Come to Him now; don’t delay. “Now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).