ONE stormy winter’s night, a vessel was observed off Whitby, making signals of distress. Immediately the life-boat was launched, and her brave crew hastened through the white waves to the rescue. Off Whitby’s rock-bound coast many a noble vessel has been dashed in pieces when the wild north wind blows. This vessel proved to be a small fishing smack, and her crew were speedily got on board the life-boat, all except the captain. The smack was his all and he refused to leave her. “She’s not so bad,” he said, declaring he could manage he himself, and would get her off in safety yet.
There was no time for parley in the terrible storm, therefore, though with reluctance, the life-boat was forced to return without him, and reached the shore in safety. The storm continued to rage, its fury increased, again the life-boat pulled off, and tried to reach the smack, but the efforts were in vain, and when morning dawned, and the storm had cleared away, the body of the captain was lying stiff and cold under the rocks.
Everyone who is out of Christ is on a sinking ship, which may go down at any instant. Now, just this moment, as came the life-boat to the ill-fated vessel, to you are come the mercy and salvation of God. Can you weather the storm? Say you, like that captain, “I am not so bad, I can manage for myself”? You will find to your cost that your reckoning is false, and that your hopes will perish.
Oh! surrender yourself to God’s mercy while yet there is time! Give up all trust in your own efforts, and flee to Christ while yet you may. The life-boat is even now waiting, you have only to step in, for “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” A few more hours, and it may be too late. Now your loving Saviour is calling, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” It will profit you nothing to know that Christ is an Almighty Saviour, if you do not come to Him for yourself to be saved.
The life-boat could not save the one who would not quit the sinking ship and trust himself to her, but all who stepped on board were saved. The boat was strong enough to bear them, and the Lord Jesus will save you just as you are, so wait not a single moment.
R. B. Y.