Too Far to Help

 •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 5
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In March 1988 the fishing boat, "Bonnie Lou II" out of Sambro, Nova Scotia, with a crew of five men was being battered by heavy seas and high winds. Another boat in the area heard the Bonnie Lou II on the radio reporting that the sea had knocked out the side door of the wheelhouse. She was taking on water. They later reported they had pumped the water out and were repairing the damage.
The next morning there was no response to radio calls and a search was begun. High winds and seas, clouds and fog hampered all efforts to locate either the boat or any debris. The probability of anyone's surviving in such conditions became more and more unlikely, and after several days the search was finally called off.
Five young men had perished at sea. It had been a hard week in Sambro where the five lived. Wives, parents and other relatives, in fact, the whole community lived in hope of some good news, but none came. The men were lost.
Lost! The word has an awful sound. We are asked in the Bible, "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mark 8:36. To lose your life is serious, but to lose your soul for eternity is far worse.
The nearest boat was too far away to help the men in trouble, but there is hope for the lost soul. "The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10. The Lord Jesus came into the world to give His life for any who would trust Him as their Savior.
None of the fathers of these young men gave up their sons willingly or intentionally. They were taken from them. On the other hand, we read that, "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. Also: "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" Rom. 8:32.
God loved—God gave! Think of this kindness of God toward those who are lost! "The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world." 1 John 4:14.
None of the crew went to sea knowing that his life would be taken; they went hoping for a good catch and to return and enjoy life. Instead they perished in the icy water.
The Lord Jesus came to die. He did so willingly. "Christ Jesus... gave Himself a ransom for all."
1 Tim. 2:5, 6.
The Lord Jesus was "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.... He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed." Isa. 53:3, 5.
The men on the doomed boat had certainly heard the way of salvation; the gospel had been preached in their village for many years. We hope they did place their trust in the Lord Jesus and received Him as their personal Savior. If any of you who read this are still lost in your sins, don't wait until you are in danger. In fact, don't wait any longer! Confess your lost condition as a sinner to God. Receive Jesus Christ right now as your own Savior. Then confess Him to others.
"If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Rom. 10:9.
The Lord Jesus suffered on the cross and took the punishment so that sinners who believe on Him could go free. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation [judgment]; but is passed from death unto life." John 5:24.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
He's my Savior. Is He your Savior too?