THESE were the words of a poor woman who earned a scanty ling by washing clothes at the edge of the river Clyde. She had fallen into the water, and as the river was deep and the current strong, her case seemed hopeless, for no help was in sight. However, a famous swimmer suddenly appeared and plunged into the stream after her. Only by extreme effort and well nigh at the cost of his own life, did he succeed in bringing her safely to shore.
She was unconscious and had to be revived by artificial respiration. But when she came to, her first words were, “I want to see the man that saved me.”
How beautiful that she should be occupied with the one who had risked his life on her behalf! Her rescuer came at once. A crowd had quickly gathered. Again she spoke, “Oh, sir,” she said, “you saved me; and I have nothing in the world but that tub. But oh if you’ll take it, you’re welcome with all my heart!”
The man, her savior, but no less astonished and gratified, made no reply. Instead, he took off his hat and passed it around the crowd who opened their hearts and purses freely. He then poured all that he had collected into the poor woman’s lap, so that she was now richer than ever she had been in all her life.
We were like that poor woman sinking deeper and deeper in sin, being carried down to death and judgment. Jesus, the Saviour of sinners, came from heaven to rescue us. He went down into the deep waters of death, gave His life, to raise us up and put us the shore of everlasting salvation.
Then too those He has saved He has enriched with eternal life and blessing. “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.” 2 Cor. 8:99For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9).
They who know Him as their Saviour are “blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in Christ” (Eph. 1:33Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (Ephesians 1:3)), are made joint-heirs with Him of all the Father has given to His beloved Son. One day soon His redeemed ones will gaze into the face of the blessed One who died to save them.
Oh that you, dear reader, may know His saving grace and that the expression of your heart might be, “I want to see the Man that saved me.”
ML-06/20/1971