Jacques Scalabrini was loading his gear into the back of his pickup truck after a day of fishing with his two small boys. The truck was parked on the sloping boat ramp by the Mattagami River near Timmins, Ontario. It had been a cold, windy day, and the three of them were cold and tired. The two boys, Marc 5 and Luc 3, were already in the cab. Soon they would be back in their warm house for a hot dinner, Jacques was thinking.
He slammed the tailgate of the truck closed and turned to make one last check to see if anything had been left. Hearing a noise, he turned to see his truck rolling backward down the ramp and right into the swiftly flowing river!
Calling for help from others along the river, Jacques plunged into the river to try to rescue his children. The truck had floated about 30 feet away from shore and was sinking.
Jacques swam out to the truck and somehow got into it and pulled both children out. He struggled to return to shore with a child in each arm. “The current was so swift,” he said later in an interview, “I just couldn’t make it with both of the kids. We were all going to drown!”
Although Jacques desperately wanted to rescue his children and tried his very best, he found he could not do it. All three of them were about to drown.
Like Jacques struggling alone, some of us have our own ideas about handling the sin in our lives. However, if our ideas do not agree with what the Bible says, we are in deep trouble! In Proverbs 14:1212There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12) God says, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death.” The Lord Jesus Christ said, “He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.” John 6:4747Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. (John 6:47). Only the Lord Jesus Christ can give hope and everlasting life to a sinner who is struggling to get to heaven. A sinner cannot make it on his own. The Lord Jesus saw us struggling alone and came to earth so that all who accept Him as their Saviour can be saved. “Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:1515That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:15).
What about you? Are you going to go on struggling alone with your own ideas and hope you’ll make it to heaven? Wouldn’t you like to know for sure that all your sins are forgiven? In Acts 13:3838Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: (Acts 13:38) and 39 the Apostle Paul says, “through this man [the Lord Jesus Christ] is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe are justified from all things.” Yes, it is only the Lord Jesus Christ who can rescue (save) us. He says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6). Won’t you accept His offer to save you?
It was Roger Francoeur who came to rescue Jacques and his children from drowning. Perhaps as a father he was thinking of his own three little children and how much he loved them. When he saw Jacques struggling, holding the two children, he plunged into the icy river and swam out to Jacques. He took Luc out of Jacques arm and swam to shore with him. He handed Luc to someone on shore and then swam out to Jacques again. As he was trying to help Jacques with Marc, Roger suddenly went under and was swept downstream and drowned. Jacques did finally reach shore safely with Marc, but he gives Roger Francoeur the full credit for having saved them. Without Roger’s unselfish help Jacques and his two sons would have drowned.
The Bible tells us that the Lord Jesus Christ “gave Himself a ransom for all.” 1 Timothy 2:66Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. (1 Timothy 2:6). Although His salvation is offered to everyone, it has to be accepted before a person can be saved. If Jacques had refused Roger’s rescue there would not have been any hope for Jacques or his children. He knew that without help from someone else all three of them would have drowned.
Each of us needs to understand that our sins not only have put us in “deep water,” but are dragging us down. The Lord Jesus has unselfishly offered to rescue us by removing our load of sins permanently. We only need to accept His kind and loving offer by believing that He died on the cross to wash away our sins. “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 Bible also says, “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). “The Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear.” Isaiah 59:11Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: (Isaiah 59:1). This is the only Saviour who can rescue you. Turn to Him now while there is still time.
Roger gave his life to save Jacques, Marc and Luc. The Lord Jesus Christ gave His life so that all who would trust Him would be saved and have everlasting life. He loves you and is waiting to save you. All you have to do is to reach out your hand in faith and accept His salvation.
ML-03/10/1985