There is a two-way radio channel for boats out at sea that is reserved for those who are in danger. The Coast Guard listens to this channel day and night for any calls. They are always ready on a moment’s notice to send out rescue ships or helicopters. Boaters or fishermen are permitted to transmit messages over the air waves, but they must be sure to use a different channel than the one reserved for emergencies, unless they are really in trouble.
At the Coast Guard station on Martha’s Vineyard, an island just off the coast of Massachusetts in the Atlantic Ocean, the operator sat at his radio sipping coffee. He wore a pair of headphones and in front of him were the many dials and meters of a very complex radio. Rain mixed with ice pelted the window of the station. The gusty wind whipped the flag back and forth on the flagpole in front of the building. Looking out the window, the radio operator could see huge wind-driven waves crashing against the rocks on shore and sending their spray high into the air.
Suddenly, over the emergency channel the operator heard a man’s anxious call, “This is the Sol E Mar . . . we’re sinking . . . send help now!”
Yes, there is someone on shore that people who are on ships and in danger of drowning can turn to for help -someone who is both listening and prepared to help.
Yes, there is Someone in heaven who can help boys and girls who are sinking under their weight of sin. How heavy is the load of sin? So heavy that any who die still in their sins are sunk into hell. But the Lord Jesus is listening for their call and is prepared to save. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 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). Their only hope is to call on the Lord Jesus. “Whosoever 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). He has never lost a single boy or girl who has called to Him to be saved from their sins. His record is perfect. But the Coast Guard’s record is not perfect. They do their best, but sometimes something interferes.
“Send help now!” was ringing in the Coast Guard radio operator’s ears when the transmission was suddenly cut off . . . then he heard only static. The radio operator tried feverishly to return their call. He needed to contact the ship to get a location so that he could send help.
“Come in, Sol E Mar, I need your location!”
No answer.
He turned several dials on the radio and tried again. “Come in!”
There was a moment’s pause and then the operator received another disturbing message on the emergency channel.
“SOS . . . I’m sinking!” a man’s voice said, and then this same voice started laughing.
It was obviously a hoax, a false call for help. The operator connected both calls together and thought they both were a hoax. Someone was playing games on the emergency channel. He stopped trying to locate the distress signal and never sent out planes or boats to search for the Sol E Mar.
Five days later the Coast Guard operator learned his mistake. The Sol E Mar was reported missing with a father and son on board. They immediately sent out planes and ships to search the area, but it was too late. The ship had sunk with both men on board.
The man who played the hoax reminds us of Satan who does all he can to keep boys and girls from coming to Christ. He will tell them that their sins are not so bad and that they don’t need the Lord Jesus. This is one of Satan’s lies. Or he will tell them that their sins are so bad that the Saviour won’t have anything to do with them. Another of his lies. Whatever it is that keeps any boy or girl from trusting in the Lord Jesus for salvation, you can be sure that Satan, that cruel hoaxster, is behind it.
“Him that cometh to Me,” the Lord Jesus said, “I will in no wise [no way] cast out.” Come to the Lord Jesus, and don’t let anyone or anything stop you from coming - right now!
ML-02/28/1993