William Fletcher was only ten years old when he had a real adventure. It was freezing cold in Boston on January 26, but not too cold for William and his two friends to play on the pier down by the Reserve Channel. There was a neat raft floating next to the pier. The boys jumped down onto the raft and were having fun playing around on it.
It wasn’t so much fun, however, when the boys noticed that the raft was floating away from the pier. William’s two friends jumped safely back onto the pier. But William was too small to make the jump, and off he floated into the channel. The water was choppy and some of the waves came right up onto the raft. As the raft began to rock and twist, William fell down and clung to the boards for dear life.
He was cold and wet and there was a danger of his falling off into the water and drowning. He realized his peril and was really scared! But there is a danger, dear boys and girls, more serious than William’s, which many children know little about. It is the danger of passing out of this life without being saved. The Bible tells us, after death the judgment” (Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)).
William needed a Saviour, and each one of us needs the Saviour One who can deliver us from the coming judgment. Jesus is that only Saviour. He died upon the cross for sinners, and all who put their trust in Him and confess Him as Saviour and Lord are saved with an eternal salvation.
William’s friends called for help. Out from the Boston harbor sped a Coast Guard boat to the rescue. Oh how relieved and thankful William was when strong arms reached down, lifted him from the bobbing raft and from the midst of the perilous waves, and set him in safety in the boat.
The Lord Jesus came down from heaven to where we were in our sins and guilt, and He is ready and waiting to save men and women and boys and girls who will trust Him. “Whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:1313For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13).
ML-03/05/1978