A passenger described what it felt like when The Queen of the North, cruising at 17 knots an hour through Canada’s Inside Passage, hit a submerged rock shortly after midnight. He said he felt a “bump,” not a crash, not a terrific jolt, but simply a “bump.” That seemingly insignificant encounter put a hole in the hull of the 115-meter-long ferryboat. It spelled disaster. Immediately after the impact the ship’s alarm bell rang. The bell was loud, long and discordant, signifying something dreadful had taken place. The captain quickly reviewed the situation and gave the order to abandon ship. He sent out an S.O.S. message over the radio urgently requesting aid. Many small fishing boats from a nearby village responded quickly. Efficiently, the well-trained crew helped passengers over the side of the ferry into the waiting, small craft.
As a final precaution, to ensure no one was being left behind, the captain ordered one of his crew to knock on the door of every sleeping compartment. Quickly the crewmember went through the corridors of the ship pounding with his fist on every door. At last, satisfied, the captain left the ship with the last of the crew. A short time later, those on the small craft which were circling around the stricken ship heard a loud hissing noise from the direction of the ship. They trained their spotlights on it and saw the bow disappear beneath the waves, causing the giant stern, white against the night sky, to rise rapidly out of the water, and then they watched as the ship with a horrible finality nose-dived to the bottom of the sea. The ship sank less than an hour after hitting the rock.
The survivors made their way to the nearby village. A count was made, and it was discovered that 2 of the 101 passengers were still missing. An extensive search was organized at once. When the two were not found, authorities came to the awful conclusion that the couple went down with the ship. Didn’t they hear the alarm bell? Didn’t they hear the knocking at the doors? Did they sleep soundly through both? Or did they hear the alarm and the knocking and think they were part of a drill which they might ignore? These questions will never be answered with any certainty, because the ship sank in 457 meters of water and is not likely to reveal any secrets. We are passing through this world at a rapid rate. Every day, every hour brings us closer to eternity. Have you heard God’s warnings about hell?
The verses in the Bible about this awful place ought to sound like alarm bells in our souls. Holy men of old were inspired by the Holy Spirit to write and speak about hell, as well as the Lord Jesus Himself. Here are just a few of many verses which speak of this terrible place which is waiting to receive sinners. “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God” (Psa. 9:1717The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. (Psalm 9:17)). “Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:4141Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: (Matthew 25:41)). “The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Rev. 21:88But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8)). These verses sound an alarm to horrible dangers. They are the real thing. They are not a drill. They are not an idle threat that God has no power to carry out. No one may ignore them with impunity. Sadly, many seem to be spiritually comatose and cannot hear the warning they contain. Don’t be among those who think these verses couldn’t possibly apply to themselves. “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)).
The Bible uses the word “everlasting” to describe the punishment of those who never repent. “These shall go away into everlasting punishment” (Matt. 25:4646And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:46)). How important it is for you to hear these warnings about eternal punishment and then turn to the Savior before it is forever too late. For those who become alarmed over the danger of their sinful condition, the Bible has good news. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)). He came to this earth, died, and rose again, with a special mission of reclaiming sinners for God. “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:3232I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Luke 5:32)). The blood He shed on the cross has such infinite merit before God that it can wash away the darkest stains of sin. “The blood of Jesus Christ His [God’s] Son, cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)). He invites all men to receive this cleansing and to be saved. “The Lord is...not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:99The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)).
One of the last things the captain did before leaving the ship was to order a crewmember to knock on the doors throughout the ship. A verse in Revelation presents the Lord Jesus as knocking too. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me” (Rev. 3:2020Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)). Have you heard Him knocking at the door of your heart? No matter what your past may have been, He wants you to open and let Him in. He wants to be your Lord and Savior and to bless you for time and eternity. You may take Him as your Savior by placing your faith in Him, and then confessing Him before men. “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” (Roman 10:9).
Isn’t the fact that you are reading this message proof that the Lord Jesus is knocking on the door of your heart? A songwriter wrote: Behold the Savior at the door: He gently knocks, has knocked before; Has waited long, is waiting still; You use no other friend so ill! Don’t let His knocking on your heart go unanswered. Don’t keep Him waiting, but believe on His name that the gift of eternal life might be yours. “This is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son” (1 John 5:1111And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (1 John 5:11)).