“There were present at that season some that told Him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilæans were sinners above all the Galilæans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” —Luke 13:1-51There were present at that season some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 4Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 5I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. (Luke 13:1‑5).
SUCH, dear reader, are the solemn utterances of the Lord Jesus Christ, brought to mind by the terrible disaster which happened to the Victoria off Tripoli. The sad incident is doubtless still so fresh in the minds of many that it will be unnecessary for me to go into the details of the accident. My object is rather to use the occurrence as an occasion for drawing your attention to God’s thoughts of these things.
Countless have been the opinions expressed as to the cause of so magnificent an ironclad going down so soon after being struck, as well as upon the suddenness with which it occurred. But the loss of the ship was nothing in comparison with the value of the souls that went down with her. Nor could the terrible agonies suffered by some, such as those in the engine-room, and others who were sucked under those terrible steel propellers and severed limb from limb, be compared with the mental agony of those who were unprepared to meet God.
Death is a solemn reality, even for a Christian, as regards the body; but how much more so for the soul of one not justified by the grace of God. And what makes it still more solemn is the fact that the hour when death approaches is so uncertain. A very short space of time elapsed after the vessel was struck, a few minutes at most, and then more than four hundred precious souls were ushered into eternity. If any were truly converted to God it was, so to speak, for them but a sudden call to a long furlough, and by no means a matter for the least anxiety; but for those who were not, what a moment it must have proved! Not only hurried away all unprepared, but taken beyond the reach of the grace of God, beyond the hope of pardon and peace. Beyond salvation, and beyond it forever. But suppose ye that the crew of the Victoria were sinners above all the men who manned the other vessels of the fleet? Listen to the solemn words of one who knows all hearts. “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” No; to all appearance they were men of sound, moral character; men who were not wanting in courage and devotion to duty; men who were ready to hazard their lives if need be. But all this could not avail for the salvation of their souls. For the man who went down in that ship without Christ, however morally upright he may have been before his fellow men, there was nothing but judgment at the great white throne, and eternal misery in the lake of fire afterward. (Rev. 20:11-1511And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11‑15)). It is not a question of how or when a man meets death, but whether he has the Spirit of Christ or not. “If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.” (Rom. 8:99But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (Romans 8:9)).
“Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Unsaved reader, this may be thy last warning; the danger signal is once more flashed across thy path. Oh, pass it not heedlessly by, it may be thy last opportunity, tomorrow’s sun may never rise for thee! Have you repented of your sins? Sooner or later you must meet God about them. If you meet Him now, there is the precious blood of His own Son which cleanseth from all sin. Will you not at once get under the shelter of the precious blood of Christ, and thus be able to say—
“Precious, precious blood of Jesus,
Shed on Calvary;
Shed for rebels, shed for sinners,
Shed for ME”?
Dear reader, the blood of Jesus is a sure foundation, an eternal foundation which never can be moved, and which all the powers of hell can never shake. Oh! let your heart gaze where God gazes, on the poured-out life of His beloved Son. He says, “When I see the blood I will pass over you, and the blood shall be to you for a token.” The blood of the cross has made peace, the blood alone. It is not the blood and your feelings, or the blood and something else. Oh, no! The precious blood of Jesus alone in its solitary dignity has made atonement for the soul that trusts in Jesus. The dead and buried, risen and glorified Son of God has obtained eternal redemption. For whom? For sinners; for you, unsaved one. Will you simply trust Him now?
G. R. C.