One cold November night about 9 p.m. in a small fishing village along Canada’s Bay of Fundy coast, two fishermen set out in a small boat to reach their fishing boat anchored offshore. The older man, 59year-old Leslie, and his 24year-old son Charles were about one hundred yards from shore in heavy seas and a sleet storm when their small boat was swamped by giant waves. Both men were thrown into the water.
The water in the Bay of Fundy is always cold, with temperatures reaching only in the forties in mid-summer. Many men have died, and still do die, in these waters where thirty-three-foot tides are the highest anywhere in the world. “[God commands], and [raises] the stormy wind, which [lifts] up the waves thereof” (Psalm 107:2525For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. (Psalm 107:25)).
Leslie, who could not swim, was suddenly in very serious trouble.
God’s Word, the Bible, says that “man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward” (Job 5:77Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward. (Job 5:7)). “By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:1212Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12)). Man is a sinner by nature and needs a Saviour, and God has provided a Saviour for mankind through His Son, Jesus Christ. “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that 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)). God is seeking to turn man from his own way, and He may need to raise a storm in your life for you to see your need. Turn to the Lord Jesus now and have your sins washed away by His precious blood. “The blood of Jesus Christ His 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)).
The wind was in the fishermen’s favor, as it was blowing toward shore and would help to carry them in. But the five-foot-high waves continually washed over them, and each time they swallowed more water. Finally, numbed with cold and exhausted, Charles managed to get his father to shallow water and then to the rocky shore. He rolled him over to remove his water-soaked coat and then dragged him out of danger.
After lying on the shore for some minutes, both men crawled the one hundred yards to their car and then were able to drive themselves home. Both lived for many years afterwards.
Leslie and Charles both are now with the Lord Jesus in heaven. They had put their trust in the only Saviour of sinners. Won’t you?
ML-08/31/2003