SOME years ago a sailor, while on a voyage, fell overboard, and was in danger of being drowned.
As it was impossible instantly to stop the ship, the captain hastily threw a rope, which the sailor seized, and by it he was drawn safely upon the deck.
But so desperate had been his grasp, that the strands of the rope were imbedded in the flesh of his hands.
What was the cause of such eagerness?
1. The sailor was in imminent danger, and he knew it. Probably he could not swim, and therefore was quite helpless in the deep ocean.
The sinner that has not yet laid hold upon Christ as a Saviour is sinking in the dark waters of sin. “The soul that sinneth it shall die.” “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”
2. The sailor could not possibly save himself. Of this he was fully aware, and so he gladly seized the rope that was thrown him. Neither can a sinner work out his own salvation. The sin once committed cannot be erased from God’s books by reformation, nor washed away with tears of repentance.
The sailor saw in the rope his only way of escape from drowning. Christ Jesus is the only Saviour of the lost, for there is no other Name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.
3. The sailor seized the rope eagerly, because he naturally desired deliverance from death. Thus the awakened sinner, fearing he shall sink into an eternal hell, eagerly lays hold upon the Saviour. The language of his heart is
“Other refuge have I none,
Hangs my helpless soul on Thee.”
4. The sailor seized the rope instantly, because there was not a moment to spare. It is madness to defer coming to Christ, for “now is the accepted time,” and “thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Who would lie under sentence of death when the prison doors are open, and there is an opportunity of escape?
5. The sailor was not so foolish as, for a moment, to suppose the captain would be unwilling to save him, for had he been so he would not have thrown the rope. It would be equally absurd for the sinner to doubt God’s willingness to save. Had He not desired our salvation He would never have given His Son, nor would He send His servants to preach the gospel.
“As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live.”
6. Though the rope was thrown within the sailor’s reach, had he not laid hold upon it he would evidently have perished. The Gospel rope is now close to the most polluted sinner.
Stretch forth the hand of faith, dear reader, and seize it ere it be too late. “To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
An anxious soul may say, “But how can I know that I have taken hold of the rope? In other words, How can I be sure that I believe in Jesus?” Well, hast thou in conscious need turned to the Lord Jesus for salvation, as did the dying thief? Is He thy only hope? Hast thou in thy heart’s distress directed thy cry to Him?
If so, it is evident that thou dost believe in Jesus; for the Scripture saith, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?”
Trust then, unhesitatingly, that sure promise of His, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)). “Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.”
C. H.