It was the beginning of winter, and this bright morning a sturdy fisherman had taken his little boy with him for a ride along the coast in his sailboat.
The sky was clear and the sun was shining when they started out, but they had not been out too long when the sky suddenly darkened. Then one of the worst storms in years broke over the bleak and rock-bound coast. The falling snow was so dense that it became almost dark. The wind began to blow hard and increased before long to a terrible gale.
While lowering the sail the fisherman was nearly swamped by the huge waves, and the boat all but overturned. Looking anxiously around for his little son, he found him safe, but to his horror, he discovered both the oars had been swept away.
Nothing was left for them but to drift on the angry billows, and for an hour or more the frail craft was driven at their mercy toward the rocks.
What were they to do? Only a dark watery grave seemed before them, and they must prepare for the worst. The fisherman could not swim, and so did not expect to escape himself, but he thought that if his child were bound to a wooden plank, there was a chance he might float in safely to the shore.
He speedily removed the seat of the boat, and taking a stout piece of rope, he proceeded to lash his little boy to the plank. Little Ben took in the situation at a glance, and fearing to be separated from his father he pleaded with tears in his little eyes, “No, no, Daddy; Tie me to ‘oo, Daddy!—Tie me to ‘oo!”
His poor father was much affected, and clasped the little fellow to his bosom. Then with his heart almost breaking, and an earnest prayer to God for help, he did as the child desired and secured the boy to himself.
A few minutes later there was a sudden lull in the storm and a break in the clouds. The fisherman could see through the gloom the form of a lighthouse and the boat was drifting toward it. The lighthouse keepers were on the lookout, and directed by the shouts of the fisherman, they located the boat. Before long both father and son were safe on shore and in the lighthouse.
Is our reader tied to Christ? Can you say in reality in your heart,
I am Safe in the arms of Jesus,
Safe on His gentle breast;
There by His love o’er shadowed
Sweetly my soul shall rest?
The Apostle Paul knew what it was to be safe in those arms of divine love when he said, “I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom. 8:38,3938For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38‑39).
Christianity is not merely a plank of creeds or beliefs. We would not have you tied to them. It is knowing and loving a Person, the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Are you safe as linked with Him? If not then hear Him say, “I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.... Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:25,2825At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. (Matthew 11:25)
28Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28).
There is a haven of bliss for your soul in that little word Me. “All the love and grace of the heart of God, and all the rest and peace for the sinner, are contained between those two letters, M and E—Me!”
Surely that little rescued fellow would ever be thankful to his father for tying him to himself and saving him from a watery grave. So it is with God’s salvation; it makes the Saviour precious to us and the Object of our love, and we long to see Him, to be like Him, and with Him forever. May Christ be your rest, and His coming your desire.
ML-12/10/1978