Some time ago a large liner and a warship came into collision. It is reported that the pilot who was in charge of the liner when the accident occurred made a statement immediately after the collision. This was typed in duplicate, but it was not thought wise to have two copies and so the duplicate was torn up and thrown overboard.
The pieces of paper floating on the surface of the water were picked up by a boatman, pieced together, and forwarded to the commander of the warship. Thinking possibly some accident had happened to the notes, the commander courteously forwarded them to the attorney acting for the liner -but not before he had read the full report.
How worried the attorney and the owners of the liner must have felt when they knew what had taken place! How apprehensively they must have looked forward to the court of inquiry, with the knowledge that opposing parties were in possession of the full facts of the case. Those apprehensions were not unfounded, for the pilot was held guilty of careless navigation, and the owners of the liner were held responsible for all damages.
Of course, had it been known that the torn up statement would be pieced together and the information put into the reach of the commander of the warship, those responsible on the liner would have acted differently. No duplicate would have been made or, if made, care would have been taken that it was really destroyed.
And yet thousands are acting more foolishly than the officials on the liner. Could you be such a one? You know that “whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops” (Luke 12:33Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. (Luke 12:3)). You know that every thought that passed through your mind, every secret intention that fills your heart, every word that passes your lips and every action the members of your body perform are known already by Him who will be your Judge. You are plainly warned of this in God’s Word.
Yet thousands go on sinning thoughtlessly as if there were no omniscient God, no Judge of all the earth, no great white throne, no eternity to spend! Are you one of these?
If you go into eternity with nothing but the record of your sinful life of indifference to God’s claims, your doom is sealed. You will face God upon the judgment seat, and righteousness will overwhelmingly call for sentence to be passed upon you. God must be righteous.
But there is a way of escape, and that of God’s own providing. A Saviour is offered you, even One who by His death on Calvary’s cross met the claims of the throne and settled the demands of righteousness.
Will you not face the question of your guilt, your need, now when God is waiting to be gracious and is abundantly willing to save?