A young sailor lad had always carried a small pocket compass with him, and many of his shipmates had laughed at him for doing so. They said it was only a toy, and so it was, in comparison to the one used by the captain.
But one day the ship was wrecked in a storm, and our sailor friend, with three others, escaped on a raft, far out in the ocean. They only had very few provisions and what could they do?
Needless to say they were very glad of that compass. No one called it a toy then, for by following its guidance they reached land safely on the third day. Although faint and famished, they were all safe and sound, so thankful for the little compass they had once despised.
Our young friend, the sailor, has been since led to the Saviour, and now he carries something else in his pocket. It is a New Testament, and just as his shipmates once laughed at him for carrying his little compass, so now they laugh at his New Testament. Yet he knows that his compass was a very useful thing in time of trouble, shong him and his friends the way to land, and he knows too, that God’s Word alone can show him the way to heaven.
When everything goes well in life, how many there are who forget, or despise the Word of God. Like the little compass, they feel they have no use for it; but there is a day coming when all Christ-rejectors will have to meet this blessed Book and be judged by it. Do not wait until you are in trouble, dear reader, for your call may come very suddenly, and you may not have time to prepare then. The Lord Jesus stands with His arms open wide, waiting to save you. His Word tells us of the great salvation God has provided for sinners at such infinite cost. You cannot save yourself, but He is able and willing to save ALL who come to Him in faith. But those who will not have Him as Saviour must someday meet Him as Judge. The Lord Jesus said,
“HE THAT REJECTETH ME,... THE WORD THAT I HAVE SPOKEN, THE SAME SHALL JUDGE HIM IN THE LAST DAY.” JOHN 12:48.
ML 05/16/1954