SEVERAL years ago a ship called the Underley set sail from Liverpool for Melbourne, in Australia, having on board thirty-three passengers, beside her crew and cargo. All went well until she approached the Isle of Wight, when, getting too near the dangerous coast, she became “landlocked” as sailors call it, and a strong wind drove her at last upon the rocks near Ventor. Steam-tugs and every other means that man can employ were used to get her off, but all in vain. Firmly imbedded in the sand and rocks, no power at hand could move her. There she lay all night, the wild waves beating around her, threatening to sweep all before them into the deep dark waters. What a night of fear to those on board! What a picture of this poor sinful world, around which the waves of wrath and judgment are surging; sure, sooner or later, to sweep unbelievers into everlasting punishment! (Matt. 25:4646And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:46); Rev. 20:1515And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)). But there is one great difference between unbelievers in Jesus and the passengers on board the Underley. What do you think that is? Why, sinful men will not believe that wrath is coming on this Christ-rejecting world, they won’t believe the waves are rising round them, although God has said it. But the passengers on board the wreck could see their danger, and because they saw it they were filled with fear and longed to escape. Deliverance was sent them. A steam-tug ran out to help them, and got as near the wrecked vessel as its captain dared to go, and then boats put off one after another to take the passengers from the Underley to the tug. Need I tell you how gladly they accepted the deliverance thus brought to them? how their hearts leaped when the boats appeared? how instantly they sprang in when they came alongside? Do you suppose any would refuse? No, indeed. Would any delay? Well, you would think not. “Delays are dangerous,” especially when life is at stake; how much more when the never dying soul may be suddenly lost forever in overwhelming judgment!
Now, we know that “the grace of God which BRINGETH SALVATION to all men hath appeared,” yet thousands refuse it. How is this? They do not see that judgment is coming either on the world or on themselves, although God has said, “It is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment;” and has also foretold, in His word, “the wrath to come” upon the world itself. Why do not they see it? Because they do not believe God. How solemn to think that any should refuse to believe God, and so make Him a liar! (1 John 5:1010He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. (1 John 5:10).) But there are some who do believe in coming judgment. Conscience tells them they deserve it, and they have heard again and again what God has said about it. Their eyes are so far opened that they do see that judgment is before them. Well, then, you will say, if that is the case, surely they will not refuse “the grace of God which bringeth salvation”. No, they do not actually refuse it, but they delay to accept it. How is this? you ask. Well, I will tell you what happened on board the Underley. After the passengers had all been safely carried off in the boats, the sea became so dangerous that boats could no longer be used to save the sailors, but by means of rockets, a line was thrown over to the wreck, and then a strong cable was drawn from the shore to the vessel and made fast. On this cable was a life-buoy so constructed as to be drawn to and fro on the rope, and in this way one after another of the crew was drawn safely to land. The sea was now dashing wildly over the doomed ship, threatening every moment to break her to pieces suddenly.
All could see their danger, and that there was not a moment to lose. Would any delay when such danger threatened? you will ask. Yes, there was one poor man who did so. He was the chief steward, and was returning home to his wife and family in Australia. He had saved some money, which he had placed in a belt round his waist, and he now wanted to save a canary and a parrot that belonged to him. They were in the after part of the ship, and he, instead of waiting his turn on the life-buoy, went to get them. While walking aft to save his birds a terrific wave suddenly swept the deck and carried him overboard. He was a powerful swimmer, but his struggles were all in vain. Overwhelmed by the raging sea, he lost his life in attempting to save a canary and a parrot! “Oh!” you will exclaim, “how sad, how foolish, thus to risk his life, and lose it at last for the sake of such trifles!” Yet how many are there who risk ETERNAL JUDGMENT for things of as little consequence as a canary and a parrot! We might think it was kind to try and save the birds, although most foolish to risk a life for them; but what shall we say of those who delay to accept the salvation offered them by Christ Jesus, on the most frivolous pretenses? putting off from day to day, and week to week, “repentance toward God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ,” until, it may be, death comes as suddenly as the big wave that swept the poor steward to a watery grave, and carries them into eternity! I hope you are not one of these, are you? How often have you read of “the grace of God which bringeth salvation unto all.” Have you accepted it? Have you taken God at His word, and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ? If so, you are saved, and “shall not come into judgment;” but if you are still putting it off, you are in greater danger and more foolish by far than the steward was, when, instead of taking at once the deliverance brought to him, he lost his life by DELAY. All the passengers and crew were brought safely to shore, the steward was the only one in all that company who perished in the waves. I doubt not, if his poor wife and children heard, as they probably would, the history of his death, they would sadly think, as they bewailed his loss, of the old proverb, “Delays are dangerous.”
ML 12/14/1902