There is a two-way radio channel for boats out at sea that is supposed to be used only by those who are in danger. Boaters or fishermen are allowed to send messages over other radio channels, but this channel is reserved for emergencies only. The Coast Guard listens to this channel day and night. They are always ready on a moment’s notice to send out rescue ships or helicopters. But the Coast Guard’s record is not perfect. They do their best, but sometimes something interferes.
At the Coast Guard station on Martha’s Vineyard, an island just off the coast of Massachusetts in the Atlantic Ocean, an operator sat at his radio sipping coffee. He wore a pair of headphones and in front of him were the many dials and meters of a very complex radio. Rain mixed with ice splattered on the window of the station. A strong wind whipped the flag on the flagpole in front of the building. Looking out the window, the radio operator could see huge wind-driven waves crashing against the rocks on shore and sending spray high into the air.
Suddenly, over the emergency channel the operator heard a man’s anxious call, “This is the Sol E Mar ... we’re sinking ... send help now!”
“Send help now!” was ringing in the Coast Guard radio operator’s ears when the transmission was suddenly cut off ... then he heard only static. The radio operator tried feverishly to return their call. He needed to contact the ship to get a location so that he could send help.
“Come in, Sol E Mar, I need your location!”
No answer.
He turned several dials on the radio and tried again. “Come in!”
There was a moment’s pause and then the operator received another disturbing message on the emergency channel.
“SOS ... I’m sinking!” a man’s voice said, and then he laughed.
It was obviously a prank, a false call for help. The operator connected the calls in his mind and thought they were both prank calls. Someone must be playing games on the emergency channel, he thought. He stopped trying to locate the distress signal and never sent out planes or boats to search for the Sol E Mar.
Five days later the Coast Guard operator learned his mistake. The Sol E Mar was reported missing with a father and son on board. They immediately sent out planes and ships to search the area, but it was too late. The ship had sunk with both men on board.
The man who played the prank reminds us of Satan who does all he can to keep boys and girls from being saved by the Lord Jesus. He may tell them that their sins are not that bad, so they don’t need the Lord Jesus. This is one of Satan’s lies. Another lie he tells them is that their sins are so bad that the Savior can’t forgive them. Whatever it is that keeps anyone from trusting in the Lord Jesus for salvation, you can be sure that Satan, a cruel liar, is behind it.
“Him that [comes] to Me,” the Lord Jesus said in John 6:37,37All 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) “I will in [no way] cast out.” Come to the Lord Jesus, and don’t let anyone or anything stop you from coming — right now!
Messages of God’s Love 12/8//2024