“Hey, Alan, come look at the sea gulls on the railing!” Screaming, laughing cousins followed Alan to see the sea gulls sitting on the railing of the ferryboat. The birds were waiting for passengers to throw them scraps of food. But as the ferryboat crossed the deep blue water between Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, the cousins were more excited about landing on the island that still looked small in the distance.
After the boat docked, the two families crowded into the big van to visit an old restored house many of them had read about. What fun they all had exploring the famous old house.
Checking Uncle Will’s watch, the only watch among them, the parents decided there was still plenty of time to spend at a water park before heading back to the ferryboat for the ride back to the mainland. The swimming was lots of fun, and the time seemed to fly by. Then checking Uncle Will’s watch once more, there was still enough time to make it to the dock before the last ferry of the day started its slow trip back to Nova Scotia.
They were counting on Uncle Will’s watch. But what they didn’t know was that Uncle Will’s watch was wrong.
Are you counting on wrong information? Has someone told you that the way to heaven is by being good? It doesn’t matter how carefully you try to be good, the Bible tells us that is not the way to heaven. Titus 3:55Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5) says, “Not by works of righteousness [good deeds] which we have done, but according to [God’s] mercy He [saves] us.” Wrong information leads to failure. Let’s see what happened when the two families counted on the time from Uncle Will’s watch.
As the van drove within sight of the ferry landing, one of the cousins blurted out, “Look, the ferry is leaving!” Sure enough, the light of the evening sun showed the day’s last ferryboat was already steaming across the water.
There was no way to reach it -no way to bring it back - all because of a watch that gave them wrong information.
As the sun sank into darkness, a long and miserably cold night began. Huddling for warmth, all the cousins curled up in the corners of the van or under the bench seats. The two sets of tired parents spent most of the night comforting shivering children.
What happens after this life if you have been following wrong information? “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 16:2525There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 16:25)). Your long, cold night will never end. Although the two families were given a second chance once the morning sun peeked in the van windows and the ferryboat again began making its trips through the waters, you will never have another chance.
Set your “watch” to the Bible now. It is the Word of God and gives the right information for you to safely reach heaven. “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-98For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8‑9)). Have you accepted this wonderful gift of everlasting life from God?
ML-03/04/2001