In the year 1827, the frigate “Orontes” was crossing the Bay of Biscay. The night was unusually dark; the middle watch had just come on deck, when there was a dull splash, and immediately the cry arose, “Man overboard!”
There was instant activity on deck. Two boats were lowered, lights flashed, signal guns were fired, and the frigate was turned around as quickly as possible. Gregory, a careless young fellow, had stumbled overboard.
The moment the lieutenant had given his orders, he flung off his coat and shoes, and leaped into the tossing sea to rescue the drowning man. The sailors, who had rushed on deck, clustered like bees in the rigging, staring and listening in the darkness. At last they heard the steady dip of the oars of the returning boat, and the captain called, “Have you got them both?”
“Yes, sir.”
Carefully borne by two strong men, Gregory was brought on deck.
“Clear the gangway. Lanterns over this side. Help the noble fellow up.”
“Noble indeed, sir,” said poor Gregory. “He dived for me as I sank, and bore me on his back until the boat came up—he saved my life.”
“Get underneath him and lift him up.” And thus was the young lieutenant borne by four strong men to the deck and tenderly laid down, the other fellows offering their jackets to cover him.
The ship’s doctor knelt by him. “How is he, doctor?”— “Speak!” cried the captain.
“Sir,” said the doctor, in a choked voice, “he’s gone, quite gone.” “Dead! You don’t mean dead!” “Yes sir, he’s quite dead.”
Then there was a gasp and a sob, and the poor saved man flung himself down by the body, and burst into a passion of grief. Saved indeed, but at the cost of the life of one whose position was far beyond his own!
“If I only knew,” he cried, “how to use for him the life that he saved. Is not my life his, and not my own?”
Ah, reader, that cry of anguish ought to be ours! It is far more true that we are saved at the cost of a life infinitely beyond our own. It is gloriously true that God’s only begotten Son laid down His life for us. But He did not die without a word to tell us how to use our lives for Him after we are saved. He has left us His will, simple enough for a child, yet deep enough for the wisest of men who bow to His Word. He has left us the Bible, that we may read it, and spend for Him the life that is His and not our own.
Yes reader, we are saved through His blood. Are you? Will you today accept Him as your Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, the One who died for our sins and is now raised again and seated at God’s right hand in glory?
ML 11/08/1953